Method for monitoring paging and apparatus using the same

ABSTRACT

A method for monitoring paging is provided. The method is performed by a user equipment (UE) and includes actions of receiving a first Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) addressed to a first Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI), and stopping monitoring a second PDCCH addressed to a second RNTI if the first PDCCH includes a paging stop indicator, where the second RNTI is the same as the first RNTI.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present disclosure claims the benefit of and priority to provisionalU.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/829,223 filed on Apr. 4, 2019,provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/829,214 filed on Apr. 4,2019, and PCT Patent Application Serial No. PCT/CN2020/076647 filed onFeb. 25, 2020. The contents of all above-named applications are fullyincorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to wireless communications, andmore particularly, to methods for monitoring paging and apparatusesusing the same.

BACKGROUND

Paging is a mechanism that allows a network to reach User Equipments(UEs) operating in the Radio Resource Control (RRC)_IDLE state and theRRC_INACTIVE state, and to notify UEs operating in the RRC_IDLE state,the RRC_INACTIVE state or the RRC_CONNECTED state of system informationchanges and/or Public Warning System (PWS) indications (e.g., Earthquakeand Tsunami Warning System (ETWS)/Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS)messages).

However, the current paging monitoring mechanism may not be appliablefor the UEs operating in the next generation (e.g., Fifth Generation(5G) New Radio (NR)) wireless communication system.

Therefore, there is a need for paging enhancement in wirelesscommunication systems.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is directed to methods for monitoring paging andapparatus using the same.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a UE is provided. TheUE includes one or more non-transitory computer-readable media havingcomputer-executable instructions embodied thereon and at least oneprocessor coupled to the one or more non-transitory computer-readablemedia. The at least one processor is configured to execute thecomputer-executable instructions to receive a first Physical DownlinkControl Channel (PDCCH) addressed to a first Radio Network TemporaryIdentifier (RNTI), and stop monitoring a second PDCCH addressed to asecond RNTI if the first PDCCH includes a paging stop indicator, wherethe second RNTI may be the same as the first RNTI.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method formonitoring paging is provided. The method is performed by a UE andincludes actions of receiving a first PDCCH addressed to a first RNTI,and stopping monitoring a second PDCCH addressed to a second RNTI if thefirst PDCCH includes a paging stop indicator, where the second RNTI maybe the same as the first RNTI.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Aspects of the present disclosure are best understood from the followingdetailed description when read with the accompanying figures. Variousfeatures are not drawn to scale. Dimensions of various features may bearbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating multiple Paging Occasions(POs) configured for a UE in a Discontinuous Reception (DRX) cycle, inaccordance with an example implementation of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method for monitoring paging, in accordancewith an example implementation of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating multiple Physical DownlinkControl Channel (PDCCH) monitoring occasions for paging in a PO within aDRX cycle, in accordance with an example implementation of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method for monitoring paging in accordancewith an example implementation of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a node for wirelesscommunication, in accordance with various aspects of the presentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description contains specific information pertaining toexample implementations in the present disclosure. The drawings in thepresent disclosure and their accompanying detailed description aredirected to merely example implementations. However, the presentdisclosure is not limited to merely these example implementations. Othervariations and implementations of the present disclosure will occur tothose skilled in the art. Unless noted otherwise, like or correspondingelements among the figures may be indicated by like or correspondingreference numerals. Moreover, the drawings and illustrations in thepresent disclosure are generally not to scale and are not intended tocorrespond to actual relative dimensions.

For the purpose of consistency and ease of understanding, like featuresmay be identified (although, in some examples, not illustrated) by thesame numerals in the example figures. However, the features in differentimplementations may be different in other respects, and thus shall notbe narrowly confined to what is illustrated in the figures.

The description uses the phrases “in one implementation,” or “in someimplementations,” which may each refer to one or more of the same ordifferent implementations. The term “coupled” is defined as connected,whether directly or indirectly through intervening components, and isnot necessarily limited to physical connections. The term “comprising,”when utilized, means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; itspecifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in theso-described combination, group, series and the equivalent. Theexpression “at least one of A, B and C” or “at least one of thefollowing: A, B and C” means “only A, or only B, or only C, or anycombination of A, B and C.”

Additionally, for the purposes of explanation and non-limitation,specific details, such as functional entities, techniques, protocols,standard, and the like are set forth for providing an understanding ofthe described technology. In other examples, detailed description ofwell-known methods, technologies, systems, architectures, and the likeare omitted so as not to obscure the description with unnecessarydetails.

Persons skilled in the art will immediately recognize that any networkfunction(s) or algorithm(s) described in the present disclosure may beimplemented by hardware, software or a combination of software andhardware. Described functions may correspond to modules which may besoftware, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. The softwareimplementation may comprise computer executable instructions stored oncomputer readable medium such as memory or other type of storagedevices. For example, one or more microprocessors or general-purposecomputers with communication processing capability may be programmedwith corresponding executable instructions and perform the describednetwork function(s) or algorithm(s). The microprocessors orgeneral-purpose computers may be formed of Applications SpecificIntegrated Circuitry (ASIC), programmable logic arrays, and/or using oneor more Digital Signal Processor (DSPs). Although some of the exampleimplementations described in this specification are oriented to softwareinstalled and executing on computer hardware, nevertheless, alternativeexample implementations implemented as firmware or as hardware orcombination of hardware and software are well within the scope of thepresent disclosure.

The computer readable medium may include but is not limited to RandomAccess Memory (RAM), Read Only Memory (ROM), Erasable ProgrammableRead-Only Memory (EPROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-OnlyMemory (EEPROM), flash memory, Compact Disc Read-Only Memory (CD-ROM),magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage, or any otherequivalent medium capable of storing computer-readable instructions.

A radio communication network architecture (e.g., a Long Term Evolution(LTE) system, an LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) system, an LTE-Advanced Prosystem, or a 5G NR Radio Access Network (RAN)) may typically include atleast one Base Station (BS), at least one UE, and one or more optionalnetwork elements that provide connection towards a network. The UE maycommunicate with the network (e.g., a Core Network (CN), an EvolvedPacket Core (EPC) network, an Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio AccessNetwork (E-UTRAN), a 5G Core (5GC), or an internet), through a RANestablished by one or more BSs.

It should be noted that, in the present disclosure, a UE may include,but is not limited to, a mobile station, a mobile terminal or device, ora user communication radio terminal. For example, a UE may be a portableradio equipment, which includes, but is not limited to, a mobile phone,a tablet, a wearable device, a sensor, a vehicle, or a Personal DigitalAssistant (PDA) with wireless communication capability. The UE may beconfigured to receive and transmit signals over an air interface to oneor more cells in a radio access network.

A BS may be configured to provide communication services according to atleast one of the following Radio Access Technologies (RATs): WorldwideInteroperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), Global System for Mobilecommunications (GSM, often referred to as 2G), GSM Enhanced Data ratesfor GSM Evolution (EDGE) Radio Access Network (GERAN), General PacketRadio Service (GPRS), Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS,often referred to as 3G) based on basic Wideband-Code Division MultipleAccess (W-CDMA), High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA), LTE, L evolved LTE(eLTE) (e.g., LTE connected to a 5GC), NR (often referred to as 5G),and/or LTE-A Pro. However, the scope of the present disclosure shouldnot be limited to the above-mentioned protocols.

A BS may include, but is not limited to, a node B (NB) as in the UMTS,an evolved Node B (eNB) as in the LTE or LTE-A, a Radio NetworkController (RNC) as in the UMTS, a Base Station Controller (BSC) as inthe GSM/GERAN, a Next Generation (ng)-eNB as in an Evolved UniversalTerrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) BS in connection with the 5GC, a nextgeneration Node B (gNB) as in the 5G-RAN, and any other apparatuscapable of controlling radio communication and managing radio resourceswithin a cell. The BS may serve one or more UEs through a radiointerface.

The BS may be operable to provide radio coverage to a specificgeographical area using a plurality of cells being included in the RAN.The BS may support the operations of the cells. Each cell may beoperable to provide services to at least one UE within its radiocoverage. More specifically, each cell (often referred to as a servingcell) may provide services to serve one or more UEs within its radiocoverage (e.g., each cell schedules the Downlink (DL) and optionallyUplink (UL) resources to at least one UE within its radio coverage forDL and optionally UL packet transmissions). The BS can communicate withone or more UEs in the radio communication system through the pluralityof cells. A cell may allocate Sidelink (SL) resources for supportingProximity Service (ProSe) or Vehicle to Everything (V2X) service. Eachcell may have overlapped coverage areas with other cells.

As discussed above, the frame structure for NR is to support flexibleconfigurations for accommodating various next generation (e.g., 5G)communication requirements, such as Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB),Massive Machine Type Communication (mMTC), Ultra-Reliable andLow-Latency Communication (URLLC), while fulfilling high reliability,high data rate and low latency requirements. The OrthogonalFrequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) technology as agreed in the3^(rd) Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) may serve as a baseline forNR waveform. The scalable OFDM numerology, such as the adaptivesub-carrier spacing, the channel bandwidth, and the Cyclic Prefix (CP)may also be used. Additionally, two coding schemes are considered forNR: (1) Low-Density Parity-Check (LDPC) code and (2) Polar Code. Thecoding scheme adaption may be configured based on the channel conditionsand/or the service applications.

Moreover, it is also considered that in a transmission time interval ofa single NR frame, a DL transmission data, a guard period, and an ULtransmission data should at least be included, where the respectiveportions of the DL transmission data, the guard period, the ULtransmission data should also be configurable, for example, based on thenetwork dynamics of NR. In addition, SL resources may also be providedin an NR frame to support ProSe services or V2X services.

In addition, the terms “system” and “network” herein may be usedinterchangeably. The term “and/or” herein is only an associationrelationship for describing associated objects, and represents thatthree relationships may exist. For example, A and/or B may indicatethat: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, or B exists alone.In addition, the character “/” herein generally represents that theformer and latter associated objects are in an “or” relationship.

For the radio access technology (RAT) deployed on the unlicensedspectrum, devices (e.g., UE, BS, and Access Point (AP)) may followListen Before Talk (LBT) mechanism before accessing a channel. Thedevice(s) may perform Clear Channel Assessment (CCA) before performingtransmissions on an unlicensed channel. If LBT fails, the device(s) maynot access the channel at a determined time.

NR-based unlicensed access (e.g., NR-U) design may also need to take theLBT mechanism into consideration. The deployment scenarios of theNR-based unlicensed access may be but not limited to:

-   -   Carrier Aggregation (CA) between the licensed band NR (e.g., for        a Primary Cell (PCell)) and the NR-U (e.g., for a Secondary Cell        (SCell)). In one implementation, an NR PCell may be connected to        a 5GC.    -   NR-U SCell may include both DL and UL, or DL-only.    -   Dual Connectivity (DC) between the licensed band LTE (e.g., for        a PCell) and the NR-U (e.g., for a Primary secondary cell group        (SCG) Cell (PSCell)). In one implementation, an LTE PCell may be        connected to an EPC or a 5GC.    -   Stand-alone NR-U. In one implementation, an NR-U PCell may be        connected to a 5GC.    -   An NR cell with DL in the unlicensed band and UL in the licensed        band. In one implementation, an NR-U PCell may be connected to a        5GC.    -   DC between the licensed band NR (e.g., for a PCell) and the NR-U        (e.g., for a PSCell). In one implementation, an NR PCell may be        connected to a 5GC.

Among the deployment scenarios, paging enhancement may be required atleast in (but not limited to) the stand-alone NR-U case. In addition,based on the NR paging design, a UE may monitor one or more pagingchannels in a PO per DRX cycle. However, the success rate of the pagingtransmission may be affected by LBT. For example, if LBT fails on anunlicensed spectrum (e.g., NR-U), and/or if the gNB/cell does nottransmit paging DL Control Information (DCI) successfully in the PO forthe UE, the latency for the UE to successfully receive the pagingmessages from a gNB/cell may be increased. In addition, a UE operatingin the RRC_IDLE state or in the RRC_INACTIVE state may not successfullyreceive the paging DCI in the determined PO(s) based on the currentPaging Frame (PF) and PO formula.

According to some implementations of the present disclosure, a pagingchannel may be a PDCCH (or a PDCCH monitoring occasion for paging) wherethe BS transmits the paging DCI, paging message, DCI format 1_0 withCyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) scrambled by paging related Radio NetworkTemporary Identifier (RNTI) (e.g., Paging RNTI (P-RNTI)), short messageor paging DCI with/without short message. In some implementations, apaging channel may be a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) wherethe BS transmits the paging message. In some implementation, a pagingchannel may be a logical channel (e.g., a Paging Control Channel (PCCH))via which the UE receives the paging DCI, paging message, DCI format 1_0with CRC scrambled by paging related RNTI (e.g., P-RNTI), short messageor paging DCI with/without short message. In some implementations, apaging channel may be a transport channel (e.g., a Paging Channel (PCH))via which the UE receives the paging DCI, paging message, DCI format 1_0with CRC scrambled by paging related RNTI (e.g., P-RNTI), short messageor paging DCI with/without short message.

In some implementations, when a Medium Access Control (MAC) entity of aUE needs to receive a PCH for which a PCH assignment has been receivedby the MAC entity via a PDCCH for a P-RNTI, the MAC entity may attemptto decode a Transport Block (TB) on the PCH as indicated by the PDCCHinformation. If the TB on the PCH has been successfully decoded by theMAC entity, the MAC entity may deliver the decoded MAC Protocol DataUnit (PDU) to upper layers (e.g., Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, PacketData Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer, RRC layer).

In view of this, paging enhancement may be critical for unlicensedspectrum operations. For example, the increase of PO number per DRXcycle, the increase of PO number in a DRX cycle, and/or the increase ofPO number out of a DRX cycle may be beneficial to a UE. The additionalPO(s) may be in a DRX cycle and/or in a specific Reference Signal (RS)(e.g., a Discovery Reference Signal (DRS)). The UE may receive a PDCCHaddressed to the RNTI associated with paging in the (additional) PO(s).The UE may receive the paging message(s) in the PDSCH(s), which isindicated by the PDCCH addressed to the RNTI associated with paging. TheRNTI associated with paging may be a P-RNTI. The RNTI associated withpaging may be 16-bit in length. The value of RNTI associated with pagingmay be fixed as 65534 (0xFFFE).

A UE operating in the RRC_IDLE state (which is referred to as an“RRC_IDLE UE”) or a UE operating in the RRC_INACTIVE state (which isreferred to as an “RRC_INACTIVE UE”) may receive the paging messages formobile terminated data, which may be initiated or managed by the 5GC. Insome implementations, the RRC_IDLE/RRC_INACTIVE UE may be configuredwith DRX by Non-Access Stratum (NAS) for receiving CN paging. In someimplementations, the RRC_INACTIVE UE may receive the paging messages(e.g., RAN paging) from a Next-Generation Radio Access Network (NG-RAN).In some implementations, the RRC_INACTIVE UE may be configured with DRXby the NG-RAN for RAN paging. In some implementations, the NG-RAN mayinclude an NG-RAN node, which may be either a gNB or an ng-eNB.

In some implementations, an RRC_IDLE/RRC_INACTIVE UE may not monitorpaging channel(s) continuously. For example, the RRC_IDLE/RRC_INACITVEUE may monitor the paging channel(s) during one or multiple POs per DRXcycle. It is noted that a PO may be a set of PDCCH monitoring occasionsand may include multiple time slots (e.g. subframe(s) or OFDM symbol(s))where paging DCI can be sent by the BS. In some implementations, thevalue of the DRX cycle may be broadcast in system information for CNpaging. For example, the value of the DRX cycle may be UE-specific,which is configured via NAS signaling for CN paging. In another example,the DRX cycle may be UE-specific, which is configured via RRC signalingfor RAN paging. In some implementations, if a UE is configured withmultiple values for the DRX cycle or multiple DRX cycle configurations,the UE may apply the shortest DRX cycle among the configured DRX cycles.In some implementations, an RRC_CONNECTED UE may monitor the pagingchannels in any PO signaled in system information. In someimplementations, for an RRC_CONNECTED UE having an active Bandwidth Part(BWP) with a common search space configured to monitor the pagingchannel(s), the UE may monitor the system information (SI) changeindication in any PO at least once in a modification period.

In some implementations, the RLC entity of the UE may use a TransparentMode (TM) for paging, which is one of multiple RLC transmission modes.In some implementations, for paging, the UE may use a logical channel(e.g., Paging Control Channel (PCCH)) between the RLC entity and MACentity of the UE. The PCCH may be a DL channel that is used fortransferring paging information, system information change notificationsand indications of ongoing PWS (e.g., ETWS or CMAS) from the network.For example, an RRC_IDLE/RRC_INACTIVE UE may receive the ETWS/CMASindication(s) in its PO(s). On the other hand, an RRC_CONNECTED UE mayreceive the ETWS/CMAS indication(s) in any PO. If the UE receives apaging message (or short message, or PDCCH addressed to an RNTIassociated for paging) that includes the ETWS/CMAS indication, the UEmay trigger the acquisition of system information without delaying untilthe next modification period. It is noted that the PCCH may map to aPCH, which is a transport channel between the MAC and Physical Layer(PHY) of the UE.

Paging procedures may be affected by LBT failure, resulting in reducedtransmission opportunities for paging. In view of this, some mechanismsare provided for enhancing paging opportunities. For example, in someimplementations, mechanisms for increasing the time-domain POs (orpaging monitoring occasions) are provided. In some implementations,additional PO(s) outside of a DRS (e.g., an NR-U DRS) may be applied.The NR-U DRS may refer to a contiguous burst including the Channel StateInformation-Reference Signal (CSI-RS) and the Remaining SystemInformation (RMSI)-Control Resource Set(s) (RMSI-CORESET(s)), togetherwith the PDSCH(s) (carrying the RMSI) associated with theSynchronization Signal (SS)/Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH) Block(s)(SSB(s)), and the SS/PBCH burst set.

In some implementations, for an SSB transmission in the NR-U DRS, theCSI-RS, the RMSI-CORESET(s) and the RMSI-PDSCH(s) may be included in thesame contiguous burst when the transmission of the CSI-RS/RMSI areconfigured. Optionally Other System Information (OSI) and paging may betransmitted in the same DRS if there are available resources.

In some implementations, the UE may determine the PO and PF per DRXcycle to monitor the paging channels based on the PF/PO formula. The BSmay provide the required parameters used in the PF/PO formula to the UE.The UE may derive the location of the PO and PF per DRX cycle. In someimplementations, the UE may derive one PO in one PF per DRX cycle andmonitor the paging channel(s) in one PO per DRX cycle. In someimplementations, the PF/PO formula(s) may be modified so that the UE maymonitor the paging channel(s) in a DRX cycle more flexibly, i.e., the UEmay not be restricted to monitor one PO in one PF per DRX cycle.

In addition, for paging, it may be beneficial to create moreopportunities (e.g., time/frequency resources, paging channels, or POs)per DRX cycle for the UE to receive the paging message(s). In someimplementations, the BS may configure one or more additional POlocations in the time domain by configuring an extended PO (e.g., apaging window) and/or configuring multiple POs to a UE. In someimplementations, for any specified solution(s) for creating additionalpaging opportunities, the UE power consumption may also be taken intoaccount; to this end, it may be beneficial that the POs are transmittedin close time to or overlap with the RSs.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating at least one PO configuredfor a UE in a DRX cycle, in accordance with an example implementation ofthe present disclosure. In the implementation, the UE may be configuredwith two PFs (PF #1 13 and PF #2 15) per DRX cycle (e.g., DRX cycle 11),where each PF may include one or more POs (e.g., PO #1 102, PO #2 104and PO #3 106) for paging monitoring. There may be at least one PDCCHmonitoring occasion for paging in each PO, and each PDCCH monitoringoccasion for paging may be associated with at least one SynchronizationSignal/Physical Broadcast Channel Block (SSB) transmitted by the BS. Asillustrated in FIG. 1, SSB #1 108, SSB #2 110, SSB #3 112 and SSB #4 114are transmitted by the BS per beam sweeping round. In addition, thenumber of the beam sweeping rounds per PO is two (e.g., beam sweepinground 1 and beam sweeping round 2) in this implementation. Therefore,SSB #1 108, SSB #2 110, SSB #3 112 and SSB #4 114 each may betransmitted by the BS twice in a PO (e.g., PO #1 102). In someimplementations, the UE may be configured with an extended PO that spansone or more additional POs in the time domain. The extended PO may beconsidered a paging window. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the paging window17 spans two POs, specifically PO #1 102 and PO #2 104. Each twoadjacent POs may be consecutive or non-consecutive in the time domain.

It should be noted that the implementation in FIG. 1 is for illustrativepurposes only, and is not meant to limit the scope of the presentdisclosure. Any number of POs/PFs/SSBs/beam sweeping rounds/DRXcycles/extended POs may be configured in some other implementations ofthe present disclosure. For example, the UE may be configured with oneor more than one PO per PF/DRX cycle.

In some implementations, the UE may monitor paging channel(s) in atleast one PO(s) per DRX cycle. ABS (e.g., gNB) or serving cell mayconfigure the UE to monitor additional PF(s) (e.g., more than one PF) ina DRX cycle. For example, the UE may determine the additional PF(s)based on a revised PF/PO formula (e.g., PF/PO formula A) considering atleast one of (but not limited to) the System Frame Number (SFN), the DRXcycle (which is denoted as “T” in the PF/PO formula A), and the totalpaging frame number in a DRX cycle (which is denoted as “N” in the PF/POformula A).

In some implementations, based on the revised PF/PO formula (e.g., PF/POformula A), the UE may determine at least one PO and at least one PF perDRX cycle, where each PO may fall within a PF. In some implementations,the UE may determine a PO associated with a PF, wherein the UE mayderive the PF and PO based on the revised PF/PO formula (e.g., PF/POformula A). The UE may determine a PO which starts before the beginningof a PF, in the duration of a PF, or after/at the end of the PF, whereinthe UE may derive the PO and PF based on the revised PF/PO formula. Insome implementations, the number of PO(s) per DRX cycle may equal to thenumber of PFs per DRX cycle. In some implementations, the number ofPO(s) per DRX cycle may be Y times the number of PF(s) per DRX cycle,wherein Y is a positive integer.

In some implementations, the UE may monitor the paging in the determinedPOs based on the revised PF/PO formula (e.g., PF/PO formula A). Anexample calculation process based on the PF/PO formula A (e.g.,including the following Equations (1) to (3)) is illustrated below:

-   -   The UE may determine the SFN for a PF based on Equation (1):

(SFN+PF_offset)mod T=(T div N)×(UE_ID mod N)  Equation (1)

-   -   The may UE determine the index of PO in a PF based on Equation        (2):

i_s=floor(UE_ID/N)mod Ns  Equation (2)

-   -   The SFN of the additional PFs in the DRX cycle (e.g., SFN_o) may        be determined by Equation (3):

SFN_o=SFN+(T div N)×F, where F=1, 2, 3, . . . , N−1  Equation (3)

In some implementations, the UE may reuse the index of PO for theadditional PF(s) in the same DRX cycle. For example, the UE maydetermine the index of PO (e.g., PO #1 102) in the first PF (e.g., PF #113) per DRX cycle, and monitor the paging channels in the same index ofPO per PF in every PF per DRX cycle (e.g., PO #1 102 in PF #1 13 and PO#1 102 in PF #2 15). In some implementations, the UE may use the indexof PO for the additional PF(s) based on pre-defined rules orconfiguration in a DRX cycle.

In some implementations, the length of a DRX cycle (T) may be (but notlimited to) 32, 64, 128, or 256 radio frames. Each DRX cycle may containN PFs. That is, N is the total paging frame number in a DRX cycle. Forexample, N may be (but not limited to) T, T/2, T/4, T/8, or T/16,depending on the value of paging search space and/or the RMSImultiplexing pattern. As illustrated in FIG. 1, N is equal to 2.

In some implementations, a PDCCH monitoring occasion for paging may bedetermined by the UE according to the paging search space and/orparticular parameter(s) such as firstPDCCH-MonitoringOccasionOfPO (ifconfigured). In some implementations, the UE may determine the PDCCHmonitoring occasions for paging according to a default/non-defaultassociation. For example, the default association may refer to the PDCCHmonitoring occasions for paging are the same as those for the RMSI(e.g., System Information Block 1 (SIB1)). The non-default associationmay refer to the case that the PDCCH monitoring occasions for paging aredifferent from those for RMSI. If it is non-default association, thepaging search space may not be zero. If it is default association,paging search space may be zero. In Equation (2), the parameter “Ns” mayrefer to the number of POs for a PF. In some implementations, if it isthe default association, Ns may be either 1 or 2, while if it is thenon-default association, Ns may be (but not limited to) 1, 2, or 4. Inaddition, in Equation (1), the parameter “PF_offset” may be an offsetused for PF determination, and “UE_ID” may be UE ID modulo 1024 (e.g.,5G-S-Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity (5G-S-TMSI) mod 1024, orInactive RNTI (I-RNTI) mod 1024).

As described in Equation (3), the value of SFN_o may be affected by thevalue of parameter F (which is referred to as “F value”). In someimplementations, the UE may receive the configuration of the F value(which is referred to as “F configuration”) in SIB1 from theserving/camped-on cell. In some implementations, the serving cell commonconfiguration in SIB1 (e.g., the serving cell common configurationincluded in the ServingCellConfigCommonSIB Information Element (IE)) mayinclude the F configuration. The common DL configuration in SIB1 (e.g.,the common DL configuration may be included in theDownlinkConfigCommonSIB IE) may include the F configuration. In someimplementations, the paging control channel configuration (e.g., thepaging control channel may be included in the PCCH-Config IE) mayinclude the F configuration. In some implementations, the parameter Fmay be a cell-specific parameter. In some implementations, if the Fconfiguration is absent, the UE may apply a default value as the Fvalue.

In some implementations, the UE may receive the F configuration indedicated signaling (e.g., an RRC message, an RRC Reject message, an RRCReconfiguration message, an RRC Release message, an RRC Release messagewith suspend configuration or an RRC Release message without suspendconfiguration). The F configuration may be used to derive the F value.In some implementations, the F configuration may be a UE-specificparameter. For example, the UE may receive the F configuration in an RRCRelease message from the serving cell. In some implementations, the Fconfiguration received by the UE from the serving cell may be includedin a suspend configuration (e.g., the SuspendConfig IE). If the Fconfiguration is signaled in the suspend configuration, the UE may applythe RAN paging cycle (e.g., indicated by the ran-PagingCycle IE) as thevalue of parameter T (which is referred to as the “T value”) to derivethe information used in the F configuration, where the parameter T mayindicate a DRX cycle. In some implementations, if the T value is notsignaled in the RRC Release message, the UE may apply the T value fromthe system information to derive the information used in the Fconfiguration.

In some implementations, the UE may derive the F value(s) according tothe corresponding F configuration. In some implementations, the Fconfiguration may be a bitmap, where the bitmap may indicate which Fvalue(s) are applied by the UE. In some implementations, the Fconfiguration may be a single value, indicating the maximum F value toapply for the UE. For example, if the maximum F value is 5, the UE mayuse the F value from 1 to 5 to derive the other/additional PF(s). Insome implementations, the F configuration may be a value range. In someimplementations, the F configuration may be a structure with choice andbitmap, and the F value may depend on the N value. For example, based onthe structure with choice and bitmap, the UE may receive the N valuebased on the choice structure (e.g., a “CHOICE” type that is defined inAbstract Syntax Notation One (ASN.1)), and then for the N value chosenby the serving cell (or camped-on cell), the UE may receive the F valuebased on the bitmap. For example, the number of N values may equal tothe number of choices. For example, the number of bits in the bitmapcorresponding to an N value may equal to the number of F valuescorresponding to an N value.

In some implementations, the F value may be selected from one or morevalues of 1, 2, 3, . . . , and N−1, where the UE may acquire the N valuebased on the DRX cycle (e.g., the T value) and/or other paging-relatedIE(s) (e.g., the nAndPagingFrameOffset IE) in the PCCH configuration.For example, if the paging cycle is 32, and half T is indicated in apaging-related IE such as the nAndPagingFrameOffset IE, the UE mayacquire the N value 16 (e.g., 32/2=16). In some implementations, the Fconfiguration may be indicated by a bitmap (e.g., a (N−1)-bit bitmap).Each bit may correspond to an integer value for the parameter F. In someimplementations, the most significant bit may represent whether F equals1 and the least significant bit may represent whether F equals N−1. Forexample, if N=5, then a 4-bit bitmap, ‘1010’, may represent that theSFNs of PFs (e.g., SFN_o) are SFN+(T div N) and SFN+(T div N)×3. Inother implementations, the most significant bit may represent whether Fequals N−1 and the least significant bit may represent whether Fequals 1. For example, if N=5, a 4-bit bitmap, ‘1010’, may representthat the SFNs of additional PFs (e.g., SFN_o) are SFN+(T div N)×4 andSFN+(T div N)×2.

An example of the F configuration which is represented based on ASN.1 isillustrated in Table 1.

TABLE 1 fconfiguration BIT STRING ((N−1))

In some implementations, the UE may acquire the N value implicitly viathe DRX cycle and other paging-related IE(s) in the PCCH configuration.In some implementations, the serving cell may explicitly signal viadedicated signaling (e.g., an RRC message, an RRC Reject message an RRCReconfiguration message, an RRC Release message, an RRC Release messagewith suspend configuration, or an RRC Release message without suspendconfiguration) or via system information (e.g., SIB1 and/or other SI)the N value in the size of the bitmap as the maximum N value, which isthe maximum T value (e.g., 256). In some implementations, the camped-oncell may explicitly signal via system information the N value in thesize of the bitmap as the maximum N value, which is the maximum T value(e.g., 256). Therefore, it is possible that some bits starting from themost significant bit or some bits starting from the least significantbit are not used for the F configuration. These useless bits may be keptas zero.

In some implementations, the F configuration may have a choice structuredepending on the N value. This example is illustrated in Table 2. Forexample, if N equals T/2, the serving/camped-on cell may choose halfTwith a (T/2)-bitmap to signal the F configuration. The T value may bethe paging cycle (e.g., the paging cycle may be indicated by thedefaultPagingCycle IE) signaled from the serving cell to the UE in PCCHconfiguration via dedicated signaling (e.g., an RRC message, an RRCReject message, an RRC Reconfiguration message, an RRC Release message,an RRC Release message with suspend configuration, or an RRC Releasemessage without suspend configuration) or via system information (e.g.,SIB1, other SI). In some implementations, the T value may be the pagingcycle (e.g., defaultPagingCycle IE) that is signaled from the camped-oncell to the UE in a PCCH configuration via system information.

TABLE 2 fConfiguration  CHOICE {     oneT BIT STRING ((T)),     halfTBIT STRING ((T/2)),    quarterT    BIT STRING ((T/4)),     oneEighthTBIT STRING ((T/8)),     oneSixteenthT  BIT STRING ((T/16)),     },

In some implementations, the F configuration may be an integerstructure, which ranges from 0, 1, 2, to Fi, where the Fi value may be afixed, specified, or preconfigured value. In some implementations, theUE may derive the Fi value based on the T value and/or the N value. Ifthe F value is zero, the UE may monitor the paging channel(s) in thePO(s) in one PF. That is, the SFN_o value for the additional PFs may notbe required. If the F value is Fi, the UE may monitor the pagingchannels in the PFs with the system frame numbers of SFN, SFN+(T div N),SFN+(T div N)×2, SFN+(T div N)×3, . . . , and SFN+(T div N)×Fi. In someimplementations, the UE may monitor the paging channels in the PFs withthe system frame numbers of SFN and SFN+(T div N)×Fi.

In some implementations, if a UE receives the F configuration, the UEmay monitor the paging channel(s) in the determined PO(s) in the PF(s)with system frame numbers of SFN and SFN_o (e.g., SFN+(T div N)×F). TheUE may not monitor the paging channel(s) in the determined PO(s) in allPFs per DRX cycle. The UE may only monitor the paging channel(s) in thePO(s) in the PFs determined based on the PF/PO formula A and the Fconfiguration per DRX cycle.

In some implementations, the DRX cycle (e.g., T value) may be (but notlimited to) the paging cycle value in the suspend configuration of anRRC Release message (e.g., the value of the DRX cycle may be included inthe RAN-PagingCycle IE), or the paging cycle value in the SIB1 (e.g.,the value of DRX cycle may be included in the defaultPagingCycle 1E). Itshould be noted that the terms “DRX cycle” and “paging cycle” may beinterchangeable in some implementations of the present disclosure.

In some implementations, the UE may monitor the paging channel(s) inevery PO in every PF per DRX cycle. In some implementations, if the UEreceives a paging stop indicator in a (received) PDCCH addressed to anRNTI (e.g., a paging related RNTI, a P-RNTI) in a PO, the UE may stopmonitoring the paging channel(s) (e.g., PDCCH monitoring occasion forpaging, PDCCH addressed to the same RNTI) in the same PO. In someimplementations, if the UE receives a paging stop indicator in a(received) PDCCH addressed to an RNTI (e.g., a paging related RNTI, aP-RNTI) in a PO, the UE may stop monitoring the paging channel(s) (e.g.,PDCCH monitoring occasion for paging, PDCCH addressed to the same RNTI)in the subsequent PO(s) in the same PF in which the UE receives thepaging stop indicator. In some implementations, if the UE receives apaging stop indicator in a (received) PDCCH addressed to an RNTI (e.g.,a paging related RNTI, a P-RNTI) in a PO, the UE may stop monitoring thepaging channel(s) (e.g., PDCCH monitoring occasion for paging, PDCCHaddressed to the same RNTI) in the subsequent PO(s) in the subsequentPF(s) per DRX cycle. In some implementations, the UE may monitor thepaging channel(s) in every determined PO in every determined PF per DRXcycle, where the determined PO(s) and the determined PF(s) may bedetermined based on a PF/PO formula (e.g., the PF/PO formula A, but notlimited to). In some implementations, if the UE receives a paging stopindicator in a (received) PDCCH addressed to an RNTI (e.g., a pagingrelated RNTI, a P-RNTI) in a determined PO, the UE may stop monitoringthe paging channels (e.g., PDCCH monitoring occasion for paging, PDCCHaddressed to the same RNTI) in the same determined PO, in the subsequentdetermined PO(s) in the same PF, and/or in the subsequent determinedPO(s) in the subsequent determined PF(s) per DRX. In someimplementations, the UE may monitor the paging channel(s) in every PO inevery determined PF per DRX cycle, where the determined PF(s) may bedetermined based on a PF/PO formula (e.g., the PF/PO formula A, but notlimited to). In some implementations, if the UE receives a paging stopindicator in a (received) PDCCH addressed to an RNTI (e.g., a pagingrelated RNTI, a P-RNTI) in a PO, the UE may stop monitoring the pagingchannels (e.g., PDCCH monitoring occasion for paging, PDCCH addressed tothe same RNTI) in the same PO, in the subsequent PO(s) in the same PF,and/or in the PO(s) in the subsequent determined PF(s) per DRX.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method for monitoring paging, in accordancewith an example implementation of the present disclosure.

In action 202, a UE may receive a first PDCCH addressed to a first RNTI.In some implementations, the first PDCCH addressed to the first RNTI maybe a PDCCH on which the UE receives the DCI with CRC scrambled by thefirst RNTI (e.g., paging DCI, or DCI format 1_0 with CRC scrambled bythe first RNTI). In some implementations, the first RNTI may be aP-RNTI.

In action 204, the UE may stop monitoring a second PDCCH addressed to asecond RNTI, if the first PDCCH includes a paging stop indicator or theUE does not successfully decode the first PDCCH. The second RNTI may bethe same as the first RNTI. In some implementations, the second PDCCHaddressed to the second RNTI may be a PDCCH on which the UE receives theDCI with CRC scrambled by the second RNTI (e.g., paging DCI, or DCIformat 1_0 with CRC scrambled by the second RNTI). In someimplementations, the second RNTI may be a P-RNTI.

In some implementations, the paging stop indicator may be contained inpaging DCI. In some implementations, the paging stop indicator may becontained in an RRC message.

In the implementation, the UE may be configured with multiple PDCCHmonitoring occasions for paging in a PO within a DRX cycle, where theconfigured PDCCH monitoring occasions may include a first PDCCHmonitoring occasion for the first PDCCH and a second PDCCH monitoringoccasion for the second PDCCH. In the implementation, the UE may beconfigured with multiple (or at least one) PDCCH monitoring occasionsfor paging associated with a PO within a DRX cycle, where the configuredPDCCH monitoring occasions for paging may include a first PDCCHmonitoring occasion for the first PDCCH and a second PDCCH monitoringoccasion for the second PDCCH. The start of the first PDCCH monitoringoccasion may before the start of the associated PO, during theassociated PO, or after/at the end of the associated PO. The start ofthe second PDCCH monitoring occasion may before the start of theassociated PO, during the associated PO, or after/at the end of theassociated PO. In some implementations, the PO with which the firstPDCCH monitoring occasion for paging is associated, may be the same asthe PO with which the second PDCCH monitoring occasion for paging isassociated. In some implementations, the PO with which the first PDCCHmonitoring occasion for paging is associated, may be different from thePO with which the second PDCCH monitoring occasion for paging isassociated. The PO with which the first PDCCH monitoring occasion forpaging is associated, may come before or after the PO with which thesecond PDCCH monitoring occasion for paging is associated. In someimplementations, the PO with which the first PDCCH monitoring occasionfor paging is associated may be in (or correspond to) the same DRX cycleas the DRX cycle which the PO with which the second PDCCH monitoringoccasion for paging is associated is in (or corresponds to). In someimplementations, the PO with which the first PDCCH monitoring occasionfor paging is associated may be in (or correspond to) a different DRXcycle from the DRX cycle which the PO with which the second PDCCHmonitoring occasion for paging is associated is in (or corresponds to).In some implementations, the PO with which the first PDCCH monitoringoccasion for paging is associated may be in (or correspond to) the samePF as the PF which the PO with which the second PDCCH monitoringoccasion for paging is associated is in (or corresponds to). In someimplementations, the PO with which the first PDCCH monitoring occasionfor paging is associated may be in (or correspond to) a different PFfrom the PF which the PO with which the second PDCCH monitoring occasionfor paging is associated is in (or corresponds to). In theimplementation, the UE may be configured with multiple (or at least one)PDCCH monitoring occasions for paging associated with a PF within a DRXcycle, where the configured PDCCH monitoring occasions for paging mayinclude a first PDCCH monitoring occasion for the first PDCCH and asecond PDCCH monitoring occasion for the second PDCCH. The start of thefirst PDCCH monitoring occasion may before the start of the associatedPF, during the associated PF, or after/at the end of the associated PF.The start of the second PDCCH monitoring occasion may before the startof the associated PF, during the associated PF, or after/at the end ofthe associated PF. In some implementations, the PF with which the firstPDCCH monitoring occasion for paging is associated, may be the same asthe PF with which the second PDCCH monitoring occasion for paging isassociated. In some implementations, the PF with which the first PDCCHmonitoring occasion for paging is associated, may be different from thePF with which the second PDCCH monitoring occasion for paging isassociated. The PF with which the first PDCCH monitoring occasion forpaging is associated, may come before or after the PF with which thesecond PDCCH monitoring occasion for paging is associated. In someimplementations, the PF with which the first PDCCH monitoring occasionfor paging is associated may be in (or correspond to) the same DRX cycleas the DRX cycle which the PF with which the second PDCCH monitoringoccasion for paging is associated is in (or corresponds to). In someimplementations, the PF with which the first PDCCH monitoring occasionfor paging is associated may be in (or correspond to) a different DRXcycle from the DRX cycle which the PF with which the second PDCCHmonitoring occasion for paging is associated is in (or corresponds to).In the implementation, the UE may be configured with multiple (or atleast one) PDCCH monitoring occasions for paging associated with a DRXcycle, where the configured PDCCH monitoring occasions for paging mayinclude a first PDCCH monitoring occasion for the first PDCCH and asecond PDCCH monitoring occasion for the second PDCCH. The start of thefirst PDCCH monitoring occasion may before the start of the associatedDRX cycle, during the associated DRX cycle, or after/at the end of theassociated DRX cycle. The start of the second PDCCH monitoring occasionmay before the start of the associated DRX cycle, during the associatedDRX cycle, or after/at the end of the associated DRX cycle. In someimplementations, the DRX cycle with which the first PDCCH monitoringoccasion for paging is associated, may be the same as the DRX cycle withwhich the second PDCCH monitoring occasion for paging is associated. Insome implementations, the DRX cycle with which the first PDCCHmonitoring occasion for paging is associated, may be different from theDRX cycle with which the second PDCCH monitoring occasion for paging isassociated. The DRX cycle with which the first PDCCH monitoring occasionfor paging is associated, may come before or after the DRX cycle withwhich the second PDCCH monitoring occasion for paging is associated.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating multiple PDCCH monitoringoccasions for paging in a PO within a DRX cycle, in accordance with anexample implementation of the present disclosure.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, there are K PDCCH monitoring occasions forpaging (e.g., PDCCH monitoring occasion #1 304, PDCCH monitoringoccasion #2 306, . . . , and PDCCH monitoring occasion # K 308) in PO302 within DRX cycle 31, where K is a positive integer. In someimplementations, K PDCCH monitoring occasions for paging (e.g., PDCCHmonitoring occasion #1 304, PDCCH monitoring occasion #2 306, . . . ,and PDCCH monitoring occasion # K 308) are associated with PO 302. Insome implementations, PO 302 is associated with DRX cycle 31. A UE mayreceive PDCCH(s)/paging DCI/paging message(s) by monitoring these PDCCHmonitoring occasion(s) for paging. For example, the UE may receive afirst PDCCH scrambled by a first RNTI by monitoring PDCCH monitoringoccasion #1 304 and receive a second PDCCH scrambled by a second RNTI bymonitoring PDCCH monitoring occasion #2 306. In addition, PDCCHmonitoring occasion #2 306 is subsequent to PDCCH monitoring occasion #1304 in the time domain. The UE may stop monitoring PDCCH monitoringoccasion #2 306 for the second PDCCH in a case that the UE has receiveda paging stop indicator in the first PDCCH (e.g., by monitoring PDCCHmonitoring occasion #1 304) and that the first RNTI scrambling the firstPDCCH is the same as the second RNTI scrambling the second PDCCH.

Each PDCCH monitoring occasion in (or associated with) PO 302 may beassociated with an SSB. In some implementations, two or more PDCCHmonitoring occasions (e.g., PDCCH monitoring occasion #1 304 and PDCCHmonitoring occasion #2 306) in (or associated with) PO 302 may beassociated with the same SSB. For example, if PO 302 illustrated in FIG.3 corresponds to PO #1 102 illustrated in FIG. 1, PDCCH monitoringoccasion #1 304 and PDCCH monitoring occasion #2 306 may be associatedwith the same SSB (e.g., SSB #1 108) received by the UE in PO #1 102. Inother implementations, different PDCCH monitoring occasions may beassociated with different SSBs.

In some implementations, the UE may stop monitoring the pagingchannel(s) in (or associated with) the PO(s) in (or associated with)PF(s) per DRX cycle if the UE successfully decodes the PDCCH for paging.In some implementations, the UE may stop monitoring the pagingchannel(s) in (or associated with) the PO(s) in (or associated with)PF(s) in (or associated with) the same DRX cycle where the UEsuccessfully decodes the PDCCH for paging, if the UE successfullydecodes the PDCCH for paging. In some implementations, the UE may stopmonitoring the paging channel(s) in (or associated with) the PO(s) in(or associated with) the same PF where the UE successfully decodes thePDCCH for paging, if the UE successfully decodes the PDCCH for paging.In some implementations, the UE may stop monitoring the pagingchannel(s) in (or associated with) the same PO where the UE successfullydecodes the PDCCH for paging, if the UE successfully decodes the PDCCHfor paging. For example, if the UE receives a PDCCH addressed to aP-RNTI in a PDCCH monitoring occasion for paging corresponding to an SSBin (or associated with) a PO, then the UE is not required to monitor thesubsequent PDCCH monitoring occasion(s) corresponding to that SSB in (orassociated with) that PO.

In some implementations, the BS (e.g., gNB) or serving cell mayconfigure a UE to monitor additional PO(s) (e.g., more than one PO(s))in (or associated with) a PF per DRX cycle. In some implementations, theUE may determine the additional PO(s) based on a formula considering atleast (but not limited to) the SFN, the DRX cycle (T), the number of POsfor a PF (Ns), and the total paging frame number in a DRX cycle (N).

In some implementations, based on another revised PF/PO formula (e.g.,PF/PO formula B), the UE may determine multiple PO(s) in (or associatedwith) one PF per DRX cycle. An example of calculation process based onthe PF/PO formula B (e.g., including the following Equation (4) and (5))is illustrated below:

-   -   The UE may determine the SFN for a PF based on

(SFN+PF_offset)mod T=(T div N)×(UE_ID mod N)  Equation (4)

-   -   The UE may determine the index of PO based on

i_s=floor(UE_ID/N)mod Ns  Equation (5)

The UE may monitor the paging channel(s) in (or associated with) PO(s)indexed by i_s, i_s+1, i_s+2, . . . , i_s+Ns−1 in (or associated with)the PF per DRX cycle. The POs may be consecutive or non-consecutive. Forexample, the PO indexed by i_s+1 may be consecutive or non-consecutiveto the previous PO indexed by i_s.

The UE may monitor the paging channel(s) in (or associated with) the POswithin (or associated with) a PF per DRX cycle. For example, asillustrated in FIG. 1, the UE may determine a PF (e.g., PF #1 13) andmultiple POs in (or associated with) this PF (e.g., PO #1 102 and PO #3106) per DRX cycle. The UE may monitor the paging channel(s) in (orassociated with) PO #1 102 and PO #3 106 in (or associated with) PF #113 per DRX cycle.

In some implementations, the UE may determine the indexes of POs basedon information such as an N_o value, which may be an integer less thanor equal to the Ns value. The UE may monitor the paging channel(s) in(or associated with) PO(s) indexed by i_s, i_s+1, i_s+2, . . . ,i_s+N_o−1. In other words, N_o may be the (maximum) number of PO(s) inwhich the UE is required to monitor the paging channel(s). In someimplementations, if the UE stops monitoring the paging channel(s) uponsuccessfully decoding the PDCCH for paging or upon receiving the pagingstop indicator, the N_o value may be the maximum number of PO(s) inwhich the UE is required to monitor the paging channel(s).

In some implementations, the serving/camped-on cell may indicate theinformation (e.g., N_o) with an integer structure via system information(e.g., SIB1, other SI) and/or dedicated signaling (e.g., an RRC message,an RRC Reject message, an RRC Reconfiguration message, an RRC Releasemessage, an RRC Release message with suspend configuration, or an RRCRelease message without suspend configuration). In some implementations,the UE may determine an integer value range (e.g., from 0 to N_o)according to the information (e.g., N_o). For example, if N_o is 3, theUE may monitor the paging channel(s) in the PO(s) indexed by i_s, i_s+1,and i_s+2. In some implementations, the UE may monitor the pagingchannel(s) in these three POs. In some implementations, if the UEsuccessfully decodes the PDCCH for paging or upon receiving the pagingstop indicator, the UE may stop monitoring the paging channel(s) in (orassociated with) the PO(s) indicated by the information.

In some implementations, the UE may receive a Ns-bit bitmap (e.g., BITSTRING (size(Ns))) or a N_o-bitmap (e.g., BIT STRING (size(N_o)) fromthe serving/camped-on cell via system information (e.g., SIB1, otherSI). In some implementations, the UE may receive a Ns-bit bitmap (e.g.,BIT STRING (size(Ns))) or a N_o-bitmap (e.g., BIT STRING (size(N_o))from the serving cell via dedicated signaling (e.g., an RRC message, anRRC Reject message, an RRC Reconfiguration message, an RRC Releasemessage, an RRC Release message with suspend configuration, or an RRCRelease message without suspend configuration). Each bit may correspondto a PO. For example, the most significant bit may correspond to the POindexed by i_s. The least significant bit may correspond to the POindexed by i_s+Ns−1 or i_s+N_o−1. In another example, the leastsignificant bit may correspond to the PO indexed by i_s. The mostsignificant bit may correspond to the PO indexed by i_s+Ns−1 ori_s+N_o−1. If all bits in the bitmap are ‘1’, the UE may determine thePOs indexed by i_s, i_s+1, . . . , to i_s+Ns−1 (or to s+N_o−1), and/ormonitor the paging channel(s) in (or associated with) the indexed POs.

In some implementations, the UE may monitor the paging channel(s) in (orassociated with) POs with the corresponding bit ‘1’ in the bitmap. Insome implementations, the UE may stop monitoring the paging channel(s)in (or associated with) POs with the corresponding bit ‘1’ in the bitmapif the UE successfully decodes the PDCCH for paging in (or associatedwith) the PO.

In some implementations, the revised PF/PO formula (e.g., PF/PO formulaB) may not include the i_s formula. In such a case, the UE may not needto determine the PO index and may always monitor the paging channel(s)in (or associated with) every PO in (or associated with) the determinedPF. In addition, the UE may stop monitoring the paging channel(s) in (orassociated with) the PO(s) in (or associated with) the determined PF ifthe UE successfully decodes the PDCCH for paging and/or if the UEreceives the paging stop indicator.

In some implementations, the UE may monitor the paging channel(s) in (orassociated with) the PO indexed by the i_s value. If the UE cannotsuccessfully decode the PDCCH for paging and/or if the UE cannot receivethe paging stop indicator, the UE may start monitoring the pagingchannels in (or associated with) additional PO(s) in (or associatedwith) the same PF. The UE may determine the additional PO(s) based onthe revised PF/PO formula (e.g., PF/PO formula B with bitmap or integerstructure).

In some implementations, if the UE cannot decode the paging (e.g., anycombination of paging DCI, paging message(s), paging DCI with shortmessage and paging DCI without short message) in (or associated with)the determined PO based on the PF/PO formula, the UE may continuemonitoring the paging channel(s) in (or associated with) the determinedPO(s) based on the revised PF/PO formula (e.g., the PF/PO formula A orPF/PO formula B). Furthermore, if the UE cannot decode the paging (e.g.,any combination of paging DCI, paging message(s), paging DCI with shortmessage and paging DCI without short message) in (or associated with)determined PO(s) in (or associated with) one PF, the UE may continuemonitoring the paging channel(s) in (or associated with) the following(or subsequent) PO(s) in the next (or subsequent) PF. For example,according to FIG. 1, if the UE does not successfully decode the pagingin PO #1 in PF #1 13, the UE may continue monitoring the pagingchannel(s) in the subsequent PO #2 104 in PF #1 13. For another example,according to FIG. 1, if the UE does not successfully decode the pagingin PO #1 102 in PF #1 13, the UE may continue monitoring the pagingchannel(s) in the subsequent PO #1 in PF #2 15. If the UE successfullydecodes the paging (e.g., any combination of paging DCI, pagingmessage(s), paging DCI with short message and paging DCI without shortmessage) (or the paging stop indicator), the UE may stop monitoring thepaging channel(s) in (or associated with) the PO(s) where the UEsuccessfully decodes the paging (or the paging stop indicator), in (orassociated with) the PF(s) where the UE successfully decodes the paging(or the paging stop indicator), and/or in (or associated with) the DRXwhere the UE successfully decodes the paging (or the paging stopindicator). It should be noted that in some implementations, a POassociated with a PF may start in the PF, before the PF, or after thePF.

In some implementations, a BS (e.g., gNB) or serving cell may configurea UE to monitor multiple PDCCH monitoring occasion(s) for paging in (orassociated with) one PO in (or associated with) a PF per DRX cycle. EachPDCCH monitoring occasion for paging may be associated with thecorresponding beam (e.g., an SSB). For example, as illustrated in FIG.1, a PO (e.g., PO #1 102) may include multiple PDCCH monitoringoccasion(s) for paging and each PDCCH monitor occasion may be associatedwith the corresponding beam (e.g., SSB). In some implementations, the BS(e.g., gNB) or serving cell may configure a UE to monitor multiple PDCCHmonitoring occasion(s) for paging associated with multiple beam sweepingrounds (e.g., beam sweeping rounds 1 and 2 illustrated in FIG. 1). Forexample, as illustrated in FIG. 1, in a PO (e.g., PO #1 102), each PDCCHmonitoring occasion for paging may take rounds to the corresponding beam(e.g., SSB). For example, at least one PDCCH monitoring occasion forpaging or several PDCCH monitoring occasions for paging may beassociated with one actual transmitted beam (e.g., SSB). For example,the number of PDCCH monitoring occasions for paging associated with oneactual transmitted beam (e.g., SSB #1) in the first beam sweeping roundmay be the same as or different from the number of PDCCH monitoringoccasions for paging associated with the same actual transmitted beam(e.g., SSB #1) in the second beam sweeping round. For example, thenumber of PDCCH monitoring occasions for paging associated with thefirst actual transmitted beam (e.g., SSB #1) in the first beam sweepinground may be the same as or different from the number of PDCCHmonitoring occasions for paging associated with the second actualtransmitted beam (e.g., SSB #2) in the first beam sweeping round. Forexample, the number of PDCCH monitoring occasions for paging associatedwith the first actual transmitted beam (e.g., SSB #1) in the first beamsweeping round may be the same as or different from the number of PDCCHmonitoring occasions for paging associated with the second actualtransmitted beam (e.g., SSB #2) in the second beam sweeping round. Forexample, the number of PDCCH monitoring occasions for paging associatedwith one actual transmitted beam (e.g., SSB #1) transmitted at the firsttime may be the same as or different from the number of PDCCH monitoringoccasions for paging associated with the same actual transmitted beam(e.g., SSB #1) transmitted at the second time. For example, the numberof PDCCH monitoring occasions for paging associated with the actualtransmitted beam (e.g., SSB #1) transmitted at the first time may be thesame as or different from the number of PDCCH monitoring occasions forpaging associated with the second actual transmitted beam (e.g., SSB #2)which is transmitted at the first time. For example, the number of PDCCHmonitoring occasions for paging associated with the first actualtransmitted beam (e.g., SSB #1) which is transmitted at the first timemay be the same as or different from the number of PDCCH monitoringoccasions for paging associated with the second actual transmitted beam(e.g., SSB #2) transmitted at the second time. It is noted that thenumber of PDCCH monitoring occasion(s) for paging in (or associatedwith) a PO may be (or may not be) the multiple of the number of actualtransmitted beams (e.g., SSBs).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method for monitoring paging in accordancewith an example implementation of the present disclosure.

In some implementations, the UE may determine multiple PDCCH monitoringoccasions for paging based on a formula considering at least (but notlimited to) a first parameter (S) indicating the number of (actual)transmitted SSBs for each beam sweeping round in (or associated with) aPO and a second parameter (X) indicating the number of beam sweepingrounds in the PO, as illustrated in FIG. 4. In some implementations, theUE may determine multiple PDCCH monitoring occasions for paging based ona formula considering at least (but not limited to) a third parameterindicating the index(-ics) of (actual) transmitted SSBs, a fourthparameter indicating the number of PDCCH monitoring occasions for pagingassociated with an (actual) transmitted SSB, a fifth parameterindicating the number of times the indexed (actual) transmitted SSBs aretransmitted, and/or the sixth parameter indicating the number of PDCCHmonitoring occasions for paging associated with the indexed (actual)transmitted SSB transmitted at a certain time.

In action 402, a UE may receive at least one configuration in systeminformation from a cell. In some implementations, the at least oneconfiguration may include a PCCH configuration.

In action 404, the UE may determine multiple PDCCH monitoring occasionsfor paging according to the at least one configuration. For example, theat least one configuration may include a set of parameters including thefirst parameter (S) indicating a number of transmitted SSBs for eachbeam sweeping round in the PO and the second parameter (X) indicating anumber of beam sweeping rounds in the PO. The UE may determine thenumber of the PDCCH monitoring occasions for paging in (or associatedwith) the PO based on a product of the first parameter (S) and thesecond parameter (X) (e.g., ‘S×X’). For example, the at least oneconfiguration may include a set of parameters including a thirdparameter indicating the index(-ics) of (actual) transmitted SSBs, afourth parameter indicating the number of PDCCH monitoring occasions forpaging associated with an (actual) transmitted SSB, a fifth parameterindicating the number of times the indexed (actual) transmitted SSBs aretransmitted, and/or the sixth parameter indicating the number of PDCCHmonitoring occasions for paging associated with the indexed (actual)transmitted SSB which is transmitted at a certain time.

In some implementations, a PO may include (or be associated with) a setof ‘S×X’ consecutive (or non-consecutive) PDCCH monitoring occasions forpaging, where the first parameter (S) may be determined according to thessb-PositionsInBurst IE in SIB1. In some implementations, a PO mayinclude (or be associated with) a set of consecutive (ornon-consecutive) PDCCH monitoring occasions for paging, where the numberof consecutive (or non-consecutive) PDCCH monitoring occasions forpaging may be indicated by the third parameter(s), the fourthparameter(s), the fifth parameter(s) and/or the sixth parameter(s), Forexample, if the third parameter(s) indicate SSB #1 and SSB #2, thefourth parameter(s) indicate 2 for SSB #1 and 4 for SSB #2, and thefifth parameter(s) indicate 3 for SSB #1 and 6 for SSB #2, the number ofset of consecutive (or non-consecutive) PDCCH monitoring occasions forpaging may be ‘2×3+4×6’ (i.e., 30). For example, if the thirdparameter(s) indicate SSB #1 and SSB #2, the fourth parameter(s)indicate 2 for SSB #1 and 4 for SSB #2, and the sixth parameter(s)indicate 1 for SSB #1 transmitted at the first time, 3 for SSB #1transmitted at the second time, 1 for SSB #2 transmitted at the firstand second times, and 3 for SSB #2 transmitted at the third and fourthtime, the number of set of consecutive (or non-consecutive) PDCCHmonitoring occasions for paging may be ‘(1+3)+(1+1+3+3)’ (i.e., 12).

In some implementations, such as a PO with beam operation on thelicensed spectrum (e.g., NR paging), X may equal to 1. In someimplementations, such as a PO with beam operation on the unlicensedspectrum (e.g., NR-U paging), X may be an integer equal to or greaterthan 1. If X=1, the K^(th) PDCCH monitoring occasion for paging in thePO may correspond to the K^(th) transmitted SSB. If X>1, the K^(th)PDCCH monitoring occasion for paging in the PO may correspond to the (Kmod Sr transmitted SSB. The same paging message or the same paging DCI(with or without short message) may be repeatedly transmitted by the BSin all transmitted beams per PO. In addition, each PDCCH monitoringoccasion may be associated with a beam (e.g., SSB).

In some implementations, a UE may monitor the paging channel(s) in everyPDCCH monitoring occasion in (or associated with) the determined PO. Ifthe UE successfully decodes a PDCCH for paging (and/or successfullyreceives a paging stop indicator), the UE may stop monitoring the pagingchannels in the PDCCH monitoring occasions in (or associated with) thedetermined PO where the UE successfully decodes the PDCCH. In someimplementations, if the UE successfully decodes a PDCCH for paging(and/or successfully receives a paging stop indicator), the UE may stopmonitoring the paging channels in (or associated with) the followingPDCCH monitoring occasion(s) for paging in the same DRX where the UEsuccessfully decodes the PDCCH. In some implementations, if the UEsuccessfully decodes a PDCCH for paging (and/or successfully receives apaging stop indicator), the UE may stop monitoring the paging channelsin (or associated with) the following PDCCH monitoring occasion(s) forpaging in the same PF where the UE successfully decodes the PDCCH. Insome implementations, if the UE successfully decodes a PDCCH for paging(and/or successfully receives a paging stop indicator), the UE may stopmonitoring the paging channels in the following PDCCH monitoringoccasion(s) for paging in (or associated with) the same PO where the UEsuccessfully decodes the PDCCH.

In some implementations, the UE may randomly select the PDCCH monitoringoccasion(s) for paging to monitor the paging channel(s) in (orassociated with) the determined PO (e.g., when the UE is configured withat least one PDCCH monitoring occasions(s) for paging to monitor thepaging channel(s) in (or associated with) the determined PO). Theselected PDCCH monitoring occasion(s) for paging in (or associated with)each beam sweeping round in (or associated with) the PO may correspondto the same set of transmitted SSBs. The number of selected PDCCHmonitoring occasion(s) for paging in (or associated with) each beamsweeping round in (or associated with) the PO may correspond to the samenumber of the set of transmitted SSBs. The UE may stop monitoring thepaging channels in the PDCCH monitoring occasions if the UE successfullydecodes the PDCCH for paging in the PDCCH monitoring occasion(s) forpaging corresponding to a transmitted SSB. The UE may stop monitoringthe paging channels in the PDCCH monitoring occasions if the UEsuccessfully receives a paging stop indicator in the PDCCH monitoringoccasion(s) for paging corresponding to a transmitted SSB. Thetransmitted SSB may be in (or associated with) the determined PO.

In some implementations, the UE may be preconfigured with the value ofthe second parameter (which is referred to as ‘X’ value). In someimplementations, the UE may receive the ‘X’ value via system information(e.g., SIB1, other SI, or PCCH configuration in SIB1) from theserving/camped-on cell. In some implementations, the UE may receive the‘X’ value via dedicated signaling (e.g., an RRC message, an RRC Rejectmessage, an RRC Reconfiguration message, an RRC Release message, an RRCRelease message with suspend configuration, or an RRC Release messagewithout suspend configuration) from the serving cell. In someimplementations, the UE may be preconfigured with the value(s) of thethird parameter(s), the value(s) of the fourth parameter(s), thevalue(s) of the fifth parameter(s), and/or the value(s) of the sixthparameter(s). In some implementations, the UE may receive the value(s)of the third parameter(s), the value(s) of the fourth parameter(s), thevalue(s) of the fifth parameter(s), and/or the value(s) of the sixthparameter(s) via system information (e.g., SIB1, other SI, or PCCHconfiguration in SIB1) from the serving/camped-on cell. In someimplementations, the UE may receive the value(s) of the thirdparameter(s), the value(s) of the fourth parameter(s), the value(s) ofthe fifth parameter(s), and/or the value(s) of the sixth parameter(s)via dedicated signaling (e.g., an RRC message, an RRC Reject message, anRRC Reconfiguration message, an RRC Release message, an RRC Releasemessage with suspend configuration, or an RRC Release message withoutsuspend configuration) from the serving cell.

In some implementations, the PDCCH monitoring occasion(s) for pagingassociated with the transmitted SSBs in (or associated with) the PO maybe in the PF with which the PO is associated, before the PF with whichthe PO is associated, or after the PF with which the PO is associated.

In some implementations, a UE may start to monitor the paging channelswhen the paging window begins. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1,paging window 17 may start at the beginning of one (associated) PO(e.g., PO #1 102) and end at the beginning of another (associated) PO(e.g., PO #2 104).

In some implementations, the paging window 17 may start at (or startbefore) the PO determined based on a PF/PO formula (e.g., the PF/POformula A, the PF/PO formula B, or the PF/PO formula(s) consideringmultiple beam sweeping rounds in a PO).

In some implementations, the UE may receive an offset to the determinedPO from the serving/camped-on cell via system information (e.g., SIB1,other SI, or PCCH configuration in SIB1) and/or dedicated signaling(e.g., an RRC message, an RRC Reject message, an RRC Reconfigurationmessage, an RRC Release message, an RRC Release message with suspendconfiguration, or an RRC Release message without suspend configuration).The beginning of the paging window 17 may start at the time when thebeginning of a determined PO minus the offset to the determined POoccurs, if the offset is a positive value, or may start at the time whenthe beginning of a determined PO plus the offset to the determined POoccurs, if the offset is a negative value. If the offset is zero, thebeginning of the paging window may start at the beginning of adetermined PO. It is noted that the determined PO may refer to at leastthe first PO among PO(s) in a PF.

In some implementations, the paging window may start after the POdetermined based on the PF/PO formula (e.g., the PF/PO formula A, thePF/PO formula B, the PF/PO formula considering multiple beam sweepingrounds in a PO). The UE may receive an offset to the determined PO fromthe serving/camped-on cell via system information (e.g., SIB1, other SI,PCCH configuration in SIB1) and/or dedicated signaling (e.g., an RRCmessage, an RRC Reject message, an RRC Reconfiguration message, an RRCRelease message, an RRC Release message with suspend configuration, oran RRC Release message without suspend configuration). The beginning ofthe paging window may start at the time when the beginning of adetermined PO plus the offset to the determined PO occurs, if the offsetis a positive value, or may start at the time when the beginning of adetermined PO minus the offset to the determined PO occurs, if theoffset is a negative value.

In some implementations, the unit of the offset to the determined PO maybe a mini-slot, ms, slot, symbol, subframe, number of POs, number ofPFs, PO periodicity, or PF periodicity. The unit of the paging windowduration may be a mini-slot, ms, slot, symbol, subframe, number of POs,number of PFs, PO periodicity, or PF periodicity. In someimplementations, the paging window may include a set of PO(s) and/or aset of PDCCH monitoring occasions. In some implementations, the pagingwindow may span within a PF, across PF(s), or across DRX cycles.

In some implementations, the UE may receive the configuration of thepaging window (e.g., the paging window duration and/or the offset to thedetermined PO) from the serving/camped-on cell via system information(e.g., SIB1, other SI, PCCH configuration in SIB1) or via dedicatedsignaling (e.g., an RRC message, an RRC Reject message, an RRCReconfiguration message, an RRC Release message, an RRC Release messagewith suspend configuration, or an RRC Release message without suspendconfiguration).

In some implementations, the UE may monitor the paging channel(s) in thePDCCH monitoring occasion(s) and/or in (or associated with) thedetermined PO(s) within the (associated) paging window. Within the(associated) paging window, the UE may keep monitoring the pagingchannel(s) in (associated with) POs or in PDCCH monitoring occasions forpaging. In some implementations, the UE may stop monitoring the pagingchannel(s) within the (associated with) paging window, if the UEsuccessfully decodes the PDCCH for paging. In some implementations, ifthe UE successfully decodes a PDCCH for paging, the UE may stopmonitoring the paging channel(s) within the same (associated with)paging window in which the UE successfully decodes the PDCCH for paging.In some implementations, the UE may stop monitoring paging channel(s)within the (associated) paging window, if the UE successfully receivesthe paging stop indicator. In some implementations, if the UEsuccessfully receives the paging stop indicator, the UE may stopmonitoring the paging channel(s) within the same (associated) pagingwindow in which the UE successfully receives the paging stop indicator.

In some implementations, the serving cell may schedule candidate PO(s)for UEs via dedicated signaling (e.g., an RRC message, an RRC Rejectmessage, an RRC Reconfiguration message, an RRC Release message, an RRCRelease message with suspend configuration, or an RRC Release messagewithout suspend configuration). For example, the serving cell may sendthe RRC Release message with the suspend configuration including thescheduling information for candidate PO(s) to the RRC_CONNECTED UEs,which may transition to the RRC inactive state (e.g., RRC_INACTIVE). Forexample, the serving cell may send the RRC Release message without thesuspend configuration including the scheduling information for candidatePO(s) to the RRC_CONNECTED UEs, which may transition to the RRC idlestate (e.g., RRC_IDLE). For example, the serving cell may send the RRCmessage (e.g., RRC Reconfiguration message) including the schedulinginformation for candidate PO(s) to the RRC_CONNECTED UEs.

In some implementations, candidate PO(s) may be PO(s) which the UE doesnot determine based on a PF/PO formula or the PF/PO formula described inthe various implementations of the present disclosure. For example, thepaging in a DRS may be one variant of a candidate PO.

In some implementations, if the UE does not decode the paging DCI in thePDCCH monitoring occasion(s) for the paging in the PO(s) based on thePF/PO formula or based on the PF/PO formula in the variousimplementations of the present disclosure, the UE may continuemonitoring the paging channel(s) in the candidate PO(s). In someimplementations, if the UE cannot decode the paging DCI in the PDCCHmonitoring occasion(s) (e.g., in a DRS, in a DRX, or neither in a DRSnor in a DRX), the UE may continue monitoring the paging channel(s) inthe candidate PO(s). In some implementations, if the UE does notsuccessfully receive the paging stop indicator in the PDCCH monitoringoccasion(s) for paging in the PO(s) based on the PF/PO formula or basedon the PF/PO formula in the various implementations of the presentdisclosure, the UE may continue monitoring the paging channel(s) in thecandidate PO(s). In some implementations, if the UE cannot successfullyreceive the paging stop indicator in the PDCCH monitoring occasion(s)(e.g., in a DRS, in a DRX, or neither in a DRS nor in a DRX) for paging,the UE may continue monitoring the paging channel(s) in the candidatePO(s).

In some implementations, the UE may stop monitoring the pagingchannel(s) in the candidate PO(s) when the UE completes monitoring thepaging channel(s) in candidate PO(s). In some implementations, the UEmay stop monitoring the paging channel(s) in the candidate PO(s) whenthe UE cannot decode the paging (e.g., paging DCI, paging message) inthe candidate PO(s). In some implementations, the UE may stop monitoringthe paging channel(s) in the candidate PO(s) when the UE successfullydecodes the paging (e.g., paging DCI or paging message) in one of thecandidate PO(s). In some implementations, the UE may stop monitoring thepaging channel(s) in the candidate PO(s) when the UE successfullyreceives the paging stop indicator in one of the candidate PO(s).

In some implementations, a UE may monitor the paging channel(s) in thePO(s) based on the PF/PO formula or the PF/PO formula in the variousimplementations of the present disclosure. The UE may monitor the pagingchannel(s) in the conditional PO(s) if certain criteria is met. Forexample, if the channel occupancy is high (e.g., the Received SignalStrength Indicator (RSSI) is greater than a threshold), the UE maymonitor the paging channel(s) in the conditional PO(s). For example, ifthe channel occupancy is high (e.g., the RSSI is greater than athreshold) and/or the UE cannot decode the paging (e.g., paging DCI orpaging message) in the PO(s) determined by the PF/PO formula, the UE maymonitor the paging channel(s) in the conditional PO(s). For example, ifthe channel occupancy is high (e.g., the RSSI is greater than athreshold) and/or the UE cannot successfully receive the paging stopindicator in the PO(s) determined by the PF/PO formula, the UE maymonitor the paging channel(s) in the conditional PO(s). In someimplementations, the threshold may be pre-defined or pre-configured. Insome implementations, the UE may receive the threshold via a broadcastby the serving/camped-on cell (e.g., via SIB1, via other SI). In someimplementations, the UE may receive the threshold transmitted by theserving/camped-on cell via dedicated signaling (e.g., RRC message, RRCReject message, RRC Reconfiguration message, RRC Release message, RRCRelease with suspend message, RRC Release without suspend message).

In some implementations, the UE may receive the configuration of theconditional PO(s) in the system information and/or dedicated signaling(e.g., an RRC message, an RRC Reject message, an RRC Reconfigurationmessage, an RRC Release message, an RRC Release message with suspendconfiguration, or an RRC Release message without suspend configuration)from the serving/camped-on cell. The configuration of the conditionalPO(s) may include at least one of the thresholds (e.g., RSSI threshold),the RSSI measurement configuration, and the time/frequency resourceinformation for the conditional PO(s).

In some implementations, the serving/camped-on cell may indicate to theUE whether the UE should follow the enhanced paging monitoring method(s)described in one or more of various implementations of the presentdisclosure. For example, the enhanced paging monitoring method may be,but not limited to, the method illustrated in FIG. 2. In someimplementations, the enhanced paging monitoring method may be performedby the UE based on at least one of the following revised PF/PO formulas:(1) the PF/PO formula A, (2) the PF/PO formula B, (3) the PF/PO formulathat considers at least one of the number of multiple beam sweeps in aPO, the paging window including a set of PO(s), the candidate PO(s) andthe additional PO(s) (e.g., conditional PO(s)). In some implementations,the UE may perform the paging monitoring without using a normal PF/POformula that has been defined in, for example, the 3GPP TechnicalSpecification (TS) 38.304 v15.5.0, if the UE applies the enhanced pagingmonitoring method. Instead, the UE may use the revised PF/PO formula(s)to perform the paging monitoring.

In some implementations, if the UE receives a triggering indicator fromthe serving/camped-on cell, the UE may perform (or continue to perform)the paging monitoring (e.g., monitoring paging, monitoring the PDCCHmonitoring occasions for paging, monitoring the paging DCI, monitoringthe paging message) based on the enhanced paging monitoring method. Insome implementations, if the UE receives a paging stop indicator fromthe serving/camped-on cell, the UE may stop monitoring the pagingchannel(s) (e.g., paging DCI, PDCCH monitoring occasions for paging,paging message) based on the enhanced paging monitoring method. In someimplementations, the UE may monitor the paging DCI based on the PF/POformula when (or only when) it receives the paging stop indicator. It isnoted that the serving/camped-on cell may indicate the triggeringindicator and/or paging stop indicator to the UE via system information(e.g., SIM and/or other SI) and/or dedicated signaling (e.g., an RRCmessage, an RRC Reject message, an RRC Reconfiguration message, an RRCRelease message, an RRC Release message with suspend configuration, oran RRC Release message without suspend configuration).

In some implementations, the UE may stop monitoring the paging (e.g.,the paging DCI, paging message, paging stop indicator) in PO(s) or inPDCCH monitoring occasion(s) for paging when the UE successfully decodes(or receives) the paging (e.g., paging DCI, paging message, paging stopindicator). In some implementations, the UE may stop monitoring in thePDCCH monitoring occasions in (or associated with) PO(s) in the same PF,in the PDCCH monitoring occasions in (or associated with) PO(s) in thesame DRX cycle, in the PDCCH monitoring occasions in (or associatedwith) PO(s) in the DRS, in PO(s) in the same PF, in PO(s) in the sameDRX cycle, in PO(s) in the DRS, or in the PDCCH monitoring occasions(s)corresponding to the same beam in the same PO, wherein the UE maysuccessfully decode (or receive) the paging (e.g., paging DCI, pagingmessage, paging stop indicator) in the corresponding PO(s), DRX cycle,PF and/or DRS, when the UE successfully decodes (or receives) the paging(e.g., paging DCI, paging message, paging stop indicator). In someimplementations, the UE may successfully decode (or receive) the PDCCHincluding (associated with) the paging when (but not limited to) (1) theUE receives a paging message including its UE identity (ID), (2) the UEreceives a paging message without its UE ID, (3) the UE receives pagingDCI (e.g., a DCI format 1_0 with CRC scrambled by P-RNTI), and/or (4)the UE receives a short message.

In some implementations, the UE may stop monitoring the pagingchannel(s) in PO(s) or in PDCCH monitoring occasion(s) for paging if theUE cannot decode the paging (e.g., paging DCI or paging message) in adetermined PO or in a conditional PO and if the channel occupancy isbelow a threshold (e.g., the RSSI is below a threshold). For example, ifthe UE cannot decode the paging (e.g., paging DCI or paging message) ina determined PO or in a conditional PO and the channel occupancy isbelow a threshold (e.g., the RSSI is below a threshold), the UE may stopmonitoring the paging channel(s) in PO(s) in the DRS in which thedetermined PO or conditional PO occurs. For example, if the UE cannotdecode the paging (e.g., paging DCI or paging message) in a determinedPO or in a conditional PO and the channel occupancy is below a threshold(e.g., the RSSI is below a threshold), the UE may stop monitoring thepaging channel(s) in PO(s) in the PF in which the determined PO orconditional PO occurs. For example, if the UE cannot decode the paging(e.g., paging DCI or paging message) in a determined PO or in aconditional PO, and the channel occupancy is below a threshold (e.g.,the RSSI is below a threshold), the UE may stop monitoring the pagingchannel(s) in PO(s) in the DRX cycle in which the determined PO orconditional PO occurs. For example, if the UE cannot decode the paging(e.g., paging DCI or paging message) in a determined PO or in aconditional PO and the channel occupancy is below a threshold (e.g., theRSSI is below a threshold), the UE may stop monitoring the pagingchannel(s) in the PDCCH monitoring occasion(s) associated with the samecorresponding beam in the same PO.

In some implementations, the BS (e.g., gNB) or serving/camped-on cellmay stop transmitting the paging (e.g., paging DCI or paging message)for a UE in the following PO (or PDCCH monitoring occasions for thepaging) in the DRX cycle if the BS (e.g., gNB) or serving/camped-on celltransmits the paging successfully in one PO (or PDCCH monitoringoccasions for the paging). In some implementations, the BS (e.g., gNB)or serving/camped-on cell may stop transmitting the paging (e.g., pagingDCI or paging message) for a UE in the following PO (or PDCCH monitoringoccasions for the paging) in the same PF if it transmits the pagingsuccessfully in a PO (or PDCCH monitoring occasion(s) for the paging).In some implementations, the BS (e.g., gNB) or serving/camped-on cellmay stop transmitting the paging (e.g., paging DCI or paging message)for a UE in the following PO (or PDCCH monitoring occasions for thepaging) in the same DRS if it transmits the paging successfully in a PO(or PDCCH monitoring occasions for the paging). In some implementations,the BS (e.g., gNB) or serving/camped-on cell may stop transmitting thepaging (e.g., paging DCI, paging message) for a UE in the followingPDCCH monitoring occasions for the paging corresponding to the same beamin the DRX cycle if it transmits the paging successfully in one PO (orPDCCH monitoring occasions for the paging).

In some implementations, the UE may be configured with the number ofPO(s) (e.g., n) in which the UE monitors the paging channel(s). The UEmay receive the configuration (e.g., the number of PO(s)) broadcast fromthe camped-on/serving cell via SIB1 or other SI. The UE may receive theconfiguration (e.g., the number of PO(s)) transmitted from thecamped-on/serving cell via dedicated signaling (e.g., RRC message, RRCReject message, RRC Reconfiguration message, RRC Release message, RRCRelease with suspend configuration message, RRC Release without suspendconfiguration message). The UE may monitor the paging channel(s) in atleast ‘n’ PO(s). In some implementations, the UE may monitor the pagingchannel(s) in at most ‘n’ PO(s). In some implementations, the UE mayrandomly choose the ‘n’ PO(s) per DRX cycle. In some implementations,the UE may monitor the paging channel(s) in the first ‘n’ PO(s) startingfrom the determined PO based on the PF/PO formula (e.g., PF/PO formula Aor PF/PO formula B). In some implementations, the UE may determine thenumber of PO(s) (e.g., n) where the UE monitors the paging channel(s).In some implementations, the UE may be configured with the number ofPDCCH monitoring occasion(s) for paging (e.g., n′) in which the UEmonitors the paging channel(s). The UE may receive the configuration(e.g., the number of PDCCH monitoring occasion(s) for paging) broadcastfrom the camped-on/serving cell via SIB1 or other SI. The UE may receivethe configuration (e.g., the number of PDCCH monitoring occasion(s) forpaging) transmitted from the camped-on/serving cell via dedicatedsignaling (e.g., RRC message, RRC Reject message, RRC Reconfigurationmessage, RRC Release message, RRC Release with suspend configurationmessage, RRC Release without suspend configuration message). The UE maymonitor the paging channel(s) in at least ‘n’ PDCCH monitoringoccasion(s) for paging (e.g., within (or associated with) a DRX cycle,within (or associated with) a DRS, within (or associated with) a PF,within (or associated with) a PO). In some implementations, the UE maymonitor the paging channel(s) in at most ‘n’ PDCCH monitoringoccasion(s) for paging (e.g., within (or associated with) a DRX cycle,within (or associated with) a DRS, within (or associated with) a PF,within (or associated with) a PO). In some implementations, the UE mayrandomly choose the ‘n’ PDCCH monitoring occasion(s) for paging (e.g.,within (or associated with) a DRX cycle, within (or associated with) aDRS, within (or associated with) a PF, within (or associated with) aPO). In some implementations, the UE may monitor the paging channel(s)in the first ‘n’ PDCCH monitoring occasion(s) for paging (e.g., within(or associated with) a DRX cycle, within (or associated with) a DRS,within (or associated with) a PF, within (or associated with) a PO)starting from the determined PO based on the PF/PO formula (e.g., PF/POformula A or PF/PO formula B). In some implementations, the UE maydetermine the number of PDCCH monitoring occasion(s) for paging (e.g.,within (or associated with) a DRX cycle, within (or associated with) aDRS, within (or associated with) a PF, within (or associated with) a PO)where the UE monitors the paging channel(s).

In some implementations, the UE may monitor the paging channel(s) inevery PO, in every PDCCH monitoring occasion for paging, or in everyPDCCH monitoring occasion corresponding to the same beam (e.g., SSB), ifthese PO(s) and PDCCH monitoring occasion(s) for paging are configuredby the BS (e.g., gNB) or serving/camped-on cell.

In some implementations, if the UE cannot decode the paging (e.g.,paging DCI or paging message) in the determined PO (or PDCCH monitoringoccasions for paging), the UE may go to sleep and wake up to monitor thepaging channel(s) in the next PO within the same DRX cycle. In someimplementations, if the UE cannot decode the paging (e.g., paging DCI orpaging message) in the determined PO (or PDCCH monitoring occasions forpaging), the UE may remain awake and monitor the paging channel(s) inthe next PO(s) within the same DRX cycle.

In some implementations, if the UE does not receive the configuration orparameters for the configuration of PDCCH monitoring occasion for paging(e.g., configuration for the PF/PO formula A, configuration for thePF/PO formula B, configuration for PF/PO formula considering themultiple beam sweeping round in a PO, configuration for PF/PO formulaconsidering the paging window, configuration for the candidate PO,configuration for the conditional PO, or any configuration in thepresented implementations of the present disclosure) other than thenormal PF/PO formula (e.g., defined in the 3GPP TS 38.304 v15.5.0), theUE may monitor the paging channel(s) in PO(s) or in the PDCCH monitoringoccasion(s) for paging based on this normal PF/PO formula. In someimplementations, if the UE receives the configuration for PDCCHmonitoring occasion(s) for paging other than the normal PF/PO formula(e.g., defined in the 3GPP TS 38.304 v15.5.0) but with an absence ofparameter value(s) in the configuration, the UE may monitor the pagingchannel(s) in PO(s) and/or PDCCH monitoring occasion(s) for paging basedon the existing formula (e.g., the normal PF/PO formula defined in the3GPP TS 38.304 v15.5.0).

In some implementations, the UE may transmit the information regardingits capability to support a specific UE behavior (e.g., performing theenhanced paging monitoring method as described in one or more of variousimplementations of the present disclosure) to the BS (e.g., gNB) orserving cell. In some implementations, the UE may transmit theinformation regarding its capability to support the unlicensed RAT(e.g., NR-U) to the BS (e.g., gNB) or serving cell. In someimplementations, the UE may transmit the information via an RRC message(e.g., UE Capability Information) to the BS (e.g., gNB) or serving cell.Upon the BS (e.g., gNB) or serving cell receives the information (e.g.,UE Capability Information) indicating that the UE supports the specificUE behavior and/or the unlicensed RAT, the BS (e.g., gNB) or servingcell may configure the UE to perform the supported UE behavior and/orunlicensed RAT.

In some implementations, the UE may monitor the paging channel(s) in aDRS based on the paging configuration. The UE may monitor the pagingchannel(s) in a DRX cycle based on the paging configuration used for thePF/PO formula calculation.

In some implementations, if the UE cannot decode the PDCCH for paging(e.g., the UE does not decode the PDCCH for paging successfully) in thedetermined PO(s) in a DRX cycle, the UE may continue monitoring thepaging channel(s), either in PO(s) in the DRS or in PO(s) in the sameDRX cycle. The PDDCH for paging may be the PDDCH addressed to an RNTIassociated for paging.

In some implementations, if the UE cannot decode the PDCCH for paging inthe determined PO(s) in a DRX cycle, the UE may continue monitoring thepaging channel(s) in PO(s) in different DRX cycles.

In some implementations, if the UE cannot decode the PDCCH for paging inthe determined PO(s) in a DRX cycle, the UE may start to monitor thepaging channel(s) in PO(s) in the DRS. Meanwhile, the UE may alsomonitor the paging channel(s) in the determined PO(s) in the same DRXcycle.

In some implementations, if the UE cannot decode the PDCCH for paging inthe determined PO(s) in a DRX cycle, the UE may skip monitoring thepaging channel(s) in PO(s) in the same DRX cycle but continue monitoringthe paging channel(s) in PO(s) in different DRX cycles.

In some implementations, if the UE cannot decode the PDCCH for paging inthe determined PO(s) in a DRX cycle, the UE may wake up to monitor thepaging channel(s) in PO(s) in the DRS and the paging channel(s) in thedetermined PO(s) in a DRX cycle. The DRX cycle may be the same as ordifferent from the DRX cycle in which the UE cannot decode the PDCCH forpaging in the determined PO(s).

In some implementations, if the UE successfully decodes the PDCCH forpaging in a PO in a DRS before the next determined PO in the same DRXcycle, the UE may skip monitoring the paging channel(s) in the followingdetermined PO(s) in the same DRX cycle.

In some implementations, if the UE successfully decodes the PDCCH forpaging in a PO in a DRX cycle, the UE may skip monitoring the pagingchannel(s) in the following determined PO(s) in the same DRX cycle.

In some implementations, if the UE successfully decodes the PDCCH forpaging in one or more POs (which may be in a DRX cycle or in a DRS), theUE may stop monitoring the paging channel(s) in the PO(s) in the DRS, ifthe UE is configured to monitor the paging channel(s) in PO(s) in theDRS.

In some implementations, if the UE successfully decodes the PDCCH forpaging in a PDCCH monitoring occasion for paging in a determined PObased on a PF/PO formula in a DRX cycle, the UE may not monitor thepaging channel(s) in PO(s) in a DRS, where the PO(s) in the DRS may comeafter the determined PO but falls within the same DRX cycle.

In some implementations, before the UE successfully decodes the PDCCHfor paging in a determined PO based on a PF/PO formula in a DRX cycle,the UE may monitor the paging channel(s) in a PO in the DRS.

In some implementations, the UE may receive an indication (e.g., pagingstop indicator) in a DRS from a serving/camped-on cell, indicatingwhether the UE needs to monitor the paging channel(s) outside the DRS.The indication (e.g., paging stop indicator) may be carried in an RMSI,OSI, or paging DCI in a DRS. In some implementations, the indication(e.g., paging stop indicator) may have a Boolean structure or anenumerate structure. For example, if the UE receives the indication(e.g., paging stop indicator) that indicates the UE to should monitorthe paging channel(s) outside the DRS, the UE may monitor the pagingchannel(s) outside the DRS in the PO(s) calculated by the PF/PO formula.It is noted that the PF/PO formula may include any paging enhancement(e.g., a PF/PO formula considering at least one of: (1) multiple PFs ina DRX cycle, (2) multiple POs in one PF in a DRX cycle, (3) multiplebeam sweeping rounds in a PO, and (4) a paging monitoring window). Thepaging monitoring window may refer to a time duration, in which the UEperforms the paging monitoring. The UE may receive the parameters fromthe BS, where the parameters are required for the UE to calculate thePF/PO formula. Based on the PF/PO formula, the UE may derive thetime/frequency resources for the PDCCH monitoring occasions. The UE maymonitor the PDDCH monitoring occasions for paging and receive (ordecode) the PDCCH addressed to an RNTI associated for paging sent by theBS.

In some implementations, if the UE cannot decode the PDCCH for paging inthe determined POs based on the PF/PO formula in a DRX cycle, the UE mayenter the RRC_CONNECTED state. For example, the UE may send an RRCmessage (e.g., an RRC (Connection) Resume Request message or an RRC(Connection) Setup Request message) to the serving cell (e.g., if the UEis in an RRC_CONNECTED state), BS (e.g., a gNB) or the camped-on cell(e.g., if the UE is in an RRC_IDLE/RRC_INACTIVE state). The RRC messagemay include a cause value. For example, the cause value may indicate a‘PO failure’. In some implementations, the BS (e.g., a gNB) or servingcell may reply to the UE with new PF/PO parameters in an RRC message(e.g., an RRC Release message with a suspend configuration, an RRCRelease message without a suspend configuration, an RRC Release message,an RRC Setup message or an RRC Reconfiguration message). The new PF/POparameters may be used for expanding a paging monitoring window.

In some implementations, the BS (e.g., a gNB) or serving/camped-on cellmay adjust the paging parameters and inform the UE of the parameteradjustment via system information (e.g., via System Information Block 1(SIB1) and/or via OSI). The UE may apply the adjusted paging parametersin the system information to determine the updated PO(s), based on thePF/PO formula with the adjusted paging parameters, in a DRX cycle or ina DRS. The UE may monitor the paging channel(s) in the PO(s), either inthe DRS or in the DRX cycle, determined based on the adjusted pagingparameters.

In some implementations, if the UE cannot decode the PDCCH for paging inthe determined PO(s) based on the PF/PO formula in a DRX cycle, the UEmay perform a cell reselection procedure to reselect a new cell to campon.

In some implementations, if the UE cannot decode the PDCCH for paging inthe determined PO(s) based on the PF/PO formula in a DRX cycle, the UEmay bar itself from camping on the cell that transmits the pagingmessage(s) (or the PDCCH for paging in the determined PO(s)). Forexample, when the UE performs the cell reselection procedure, the UE maybar itself from reselecting to camp on the cell that transmits thepaging message(s) (or the PDCCH for paging in the determined PO(s)). Insome implementations, the barring time may be X seconds, where X is apositive real number. In some implementations, the UE may start a timerif the UE cannot decode the PDCCH for paging in the PO(s) determinedbased on the PF/PO formula in a DRX cycle. Within the X seconds (i.e.,when the timer is running), the UE may not reselect to such a cell. Uponthe timer expiry, the UE may reselect such cell or consider such cell asa candidate cell for cell reselection. In other implementations, if theUE cannot decode the PDCCH for paging in the PO(s) determined based onthe PF/PO formula in a DRX cycle, the UE may bar itself from camping onany cell of an unlicensed spectrum (e.g., NR-U), where the barring timemay be X seconds.

In some implementations, if the UE cannot decode the PDCCH for paging inthe determined PO(s) in a DRX cycle, the UE may report paging failureinformation to a cell. It is noted that such cell may be an SCell, areselected cell as the outcome of cell reselection procedure which theUE may perform after the UE cannot decode the PDCCH for paging in thedetermined PO(s) in a DRX cycle, a cell transmitting the PDCCH forpaging, or a cell transmitting the paging message(s). In someimplementations, the UE may report the paging failure information to anSCell (e.g., via Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) resources) ifthe UE is configured with CA. In some implementations, the UE may reportthe paging failure information to a PSCell (e.g., via PUCCH resources,via RRC signaling, via Signaling Radio Bearer 3 (SRB3), via PUSCHresources) in an SCG if the UE is configured with multi-connectivity. Insome implementations, the UE may report the paging failure informationto a reselected cell after performing cell reselection. In someimplementations, if a cell (e.g., SCell, PS Cell or reselected cell)receives the paging failure information, Xn/X2 interface signaling maybe required for the cell to exchange/forward the DL data to the UE. Insome implementations, the cell to which the UE reports the pagingfailure information may (not) be the cell which configures the UE withparameters to derive the PO(s)/PF in the DRX cycle for pagingmonitoring. In some implementations, the cell to which the UE reportsthe paging failure information may (not) be the cell from which the UEmay decode or receive the PDCCH for paging.

In some implementations, the UE may simultaneously monitor the pagingchannel(s) in the determined PO(s) in a DRX cycle and monitor the pagingchannel(s) in PO(s) in DRS.

In some implementations, the UE may monitor the PDCCH for paging indetermined PO(s), which falls within an Active Time of a DRX cycle. TheActive Time may refer to the time duration when a DRX-related timer(e.g., drx-onDurationTimer, drx-InactivityTimer,drx-RetransmissionTimerDL or drx-RetransmissionTimerUL) is running. TheUE may monitor the PDCCH for paging in PO(s) in a DRS in the non-ActiveTime of a DRX cycle. In some implementations, the paging monitoring in aDRS may not initiate the DRX-related timer (e.g., drx-InactivityTimer,drx-RetransmissionTimerDL or drx-RetransmissionTimerUL). The UE may wakeup only for monitoring PDCCH paging in the DRS and go back to thenon-Active Time after the DRS reception.

In some implementations, in the Active Time of a DRX cycle, the UE maymonitor the PDCCH occasion for paging in the PO(s) in a DRS, while inthe non-Active Time of the DRX cycle, the UE may not monitor the PDCCHoccasion for paging in the PO(s) in the DRS.

In some implementations, the Active Time may be extended when one ormore predetermined conditions are satisfied. The predeterminedconditions may include, but are not limited to, the detection of LBTfailure, the detection of PDCCH decoding failure, and the channeloccupancy ratio being above a threshold. In some implementations, the UEmay be configured by the serving cell via RRC message(s) with a timerrelated to the predetermined condition(s). If the predeterminedcondition corresponding to the timer is satisfied (e.g., the channeloccupancy ratio is above a threshold), the UE may extend or start thetimer. In some implementations, if the UE fails to decode the PDCCH(e.g., the PDCCH for paging), the UE may extend or start the timer. Whenthe timer is running, it may be deemed as the Active Time. In someimplementations, if the timer expires but other DRX-related timers(e.g., drx-InactivityTimer, drx-RetransmissionTimerDL, anddrx-RetransmissionTimerUL) are still running, the UE may be in theActive Time of a DRX cycle.

In some implementations, the UE may receive a paging configuration viadedicated signaling (e.g., an RRC message, an RRC Reconfigurationmessage, an RRC Release message, an RRC Release message with a suspendconfiguration, or an RRC Release message without a suspendconfiguration).

In some implementations, the parameters in a paging configuration mayinclude at least one of a System Frame Number (SFN), a DRX cycle (T),the total paging frame number in a DRX cycle (N), the number of POs fora PF (Ns), the number of actual transmitted SSBs (S), a beam sweepinground (X), the paging DCI, a short message, an indicator (e.g., a pagingstop indicator) for the UE to stop/inactivate/deactivate pagingmonitoring, an indicator for the UE to stop/inactivate/deactivate pagingmonitoring in a network (e.g., stop/inactivate/deactivate a pagingmonitoring procedure for (a cell of) a RAN), and an indicator for the UEto begin/activate paging monitoring in a network (e.g.,begin/activate/initiate a paging monitoring procedure for a RAN).

In some implementations, when a UE switches from the cell of a first RANto camp on the cell of a second RAN for performing pagingmonitoring/reception in the second RAN, the UE may regard a first pagingconfiguration for the first RAN as an invalid paging configuration andnotify the first RAN with a validity indicator. In some implementations,the validity indicator may be a Boolean indicator. For example, thevalidity indicator may be set to ‘1’ to notify (the cell of) the firstRAN that the UE regards the first paging configuration for (the cell of)the first RAN as a valid paging configuration (e.g., by storing thefirst paging configuration for (the cell of) the first RAN) after the UEperforms a network switch to camp on the cell of the second RAN.Conversely, the validity indicator may be set to ‘0’ or ‘absent’ tonotify (the cell of) the first RAN that the UE regards the first pagingconfiguration for the first RAN as an invalid paging configuration(e.g., by removing or clearing or releasing the first pagingconfiguration for (the cell of) the first RAN) after the UE performs anetwork switch to camp on the cell of the second RAN. In someimplementations, the UE may inform a network of a network switch (e.g.,to switch to camp on a cell of another network) via a 2-step RandomAccess (RA) procedure, a 4-step Random Access (RA) procedure or smalldata transmission procedure. For example, the UE may send the validityindicator to the network in Msg A of a 2-step RA procedure, e.g., on thePhysical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) of the Msg A. For anotherexample, the UE may send the validity indicator to the network via amessage (e.g., RRC signaling, RRC message, RRC Resume Request message,RRC System Information Request message) and/or resources (e.g., a PUSCHand/or a PUCCH) based on small data transmission mechanism. For anotherexample, the UE may send the validity indicator to the network in Msg 3of a 4-step RA procedure, e.g., on the PUSCH of the Msg 3, in the RRCmessage (e.g., RRC System Information Request message, RRC ResumeRequest message, RRC Setup Request message) carried by Msg 3.

In some implementations, the UE may receive the RRC state transitioninformation from the camped-on/serving cell of a first RAN via dedicatedsignaling (e.g., an RRC message, an RRC Reconfiguration message, an RRCRelease message, an RRC Release message with a suspend configuration, anRRC Release message without a suspend configuration, an RRC Resumemessage, or an RRC Setup message). Once the UE transitions from thecurrent RRC state of the first RAN to the target RRC state of the secondRAN, the UE may apply a second paging configuration for the second RANto monitor PO(s) for (the cell of) the second RAN. That is, the secondpaging configuration may be applied by the UE in the target RRC state ofthe second RAN to monitor at least one PO for (the cell of) the secondRAN. In some implementations, the target RRC state of the second RAN maybe an RRC_IDLE state of the second RAN, an RRC_INACTIVE state of thesecond RAN, or an RRC_CONNECTED state of the second RAN. The secondpaging configuration may be associated with (the cell of) the secondRAN. The UE may apply the second paging configuration for pagingmonitoring and reception in (the cell of) the second RAN. In someimplementations, the UE may receive the second paging configurationtogether with the RRC state transition information in the same dedicatedsignaling from (the cell of) the first RAN. In some implementations, theUE may receive the second paging configuration together with the RRCstate transition information in the same dedicated signaling from (thecell of) the second RAN.

In some implementations, a paging configuration of a RAN may include atleast one of: the parameter(s) used for a PF/PO formula, theparameter(s) for the UE to derive the radio resources (e.g., the timeand/or frequency domain resources) to receive paging messages and/or aPDCCH addressed to an RNTI associated for paging (e.g., P-RNTI). The UEmay receive paging DCI which is scrambled by the P-RNTI on the PDCCH,the parameter(s) for the UE to begin/activate paging monitoring in anetwork, and the parameter(s) for the UE to stop/inactivate/deactivatepaging monitoring in a network. For example, the second pagingconfiguration (e.g., for (the cell of) the second RAN) may include atleast one of: the parameter(s) for the UE to derive locations of radioresources (based on which the UE may monitor the at least one second POfor the second RAN), the parameter(s) for activating/initiating/startinga paging monitoring procedure in (the cell of) the second RAN, and theparameter(s) for inactivating/stopping/deactivating the pagingmonitoring procedure in (the cell of) the second RAN.

In some implementations, the UE may receive the paging configurationfrom the camped-on/serving cell via system information (e.g., SIB1, OSI,or Downlink Common Configuration in SIB1). In some implementations, theUE may determine the PDCCH monitoring occasion(s) for paging based onthe PF/PO formula and/or the paging configuration. The UE may determinethe PO(s) and PF based on the PF/PO formula and/or the pagingconfiguration. The UE may monitor the PDCCH monitoring occasion(s) forpaging in a PO. A PO may include at least one PDCCH monitoring occasionfor paging. For a UE, there may be at least one PO per DRX cycle. If aUE detects a PDCCH addressed to a P-RNTI within the PDCCH monitoringoccasion for paging, the UE may further decode and/or receive the pagingDCI (e.g., which is scrambled by the P-RNTI). In some implementations,the paging DCI may include at least one of a short message, a shortmessage indicator, a time/frequency resource (e.g., a PDSCH resource) toreceive the paging messages, an indicator to begin monitoring the PDCCHmonitoring occasion(s) for paging in another network, an indicator(e.g., paging stop indicator) to stop monitoring the PDCCH monitoringoccasion(s) for paging in the current network, and an indicator toswitch to another network (e.g., if the UE is equipped with Multi-SIM)to monitor the PDCCH monitoring occasion(s) for paging.

In some implementations, the paging configuration may be invalid uponthe UE's state transition (e.g., from the RRC_CONNECTED state to theRRC_INACTIVE state, from the RRC_CONNECTED state to the RRC_IDLE state,or from the RRC_INACTIVE state to the RRC_IDLE state). For example, theUE may receive and apply the paging configuration when operating in theRRC_INACTIVE state, and after the UE transitions to the RRC_IDLE state,the RRC_IDLE UE may not apply the paging configuration used in theRRC_INACTIVE state. For example, the UE may clear or remove the pagingconfiguration upon state transition, so that the paging configurationused in the RRC_INACTIVE state may become invalid for the RRC_IDLE UE.The RRC_IDLE UE may apply the preconfigured paging configuration or thepaging configuration broadcast by a camped-on cell (e.g., an NR cell oran EUTRA cell) for paging monitoring.

In some implementations, the paging configuration may be valid upon theUE's state transition (e.g., from the RRC_CONNECTED state to theRRC_INACTIVE state, from the RRC_CONNECTED state to the RRC_IDLE state,or from the RRC_INACTIVE state to the RRC_IDLE state). For example, theUE may receive and apply the paging configuration in the RRC_INACTIVEstate. After the UE transitions to the RRC_IDLE state, the RRC_IDLE UEmay apply the paging configuration used in the RRC_INACTIVE state andstore the paging configuration upon state transition. In such a case,the paging configuration used in the RRC_INACTIVE state may be valid forthe RRC_IDLE UE. If the RRC_IDLE UE has a preconfigured pagingconfiguration or receives a paging configuration broadcast from acamped-on cell (e.g., an NR cell or an EUTRA cell), the UE may apply thepreconfigured or received paging configuration rather than the pagingconfiguration used in the NR RRC_INACTIVE state.

In some implementations, the paging configuration may be invalid uponthe UE's inter-RAT state transition (e.g., from the NR RRC_INACTIVEstate to the EUTRA RRC_IDLE state, from the EUTRA RRC_INACTIVE state tothe NR RRC_IDLE state, from the NR RRC_IDLE state to the EUTRA RRC_IDLEstate, from the EUTRA RRC_IDLE state to the NR RRC_IDLE state). In someimplementations, an EUTRA RRC_INACTIVE UE may camp on an EUTRA cellconnected to the 5GC. For example, the UE may receive and apply thepaging configuration in the NR RRC_INACTIVE state. After the UEtransitions to the EUTRA RRC_IDLE state, the RRC_IDLE UE may not applythe paging configuration used in the NR RRC_INACTIVE state. For example,the UE may clear, remove or release the paging configuration used in theNR RRC_INACTIVE state. The paging configuration used in the NRRRC_INACTIVE state may become invalid for the EUTRA RRC_IDLE UE. TheEUTRA RRC_IDLE UE may apply a preconfigured paging configuration or apaging configuration broadcast from a camped-on cell (e.g., an EUTRAcell) for paging monitoring.

In some implementations, the paging configuration may be valid upon theUE's inter-RAT state transition (e.g., from the NR RRC_INACTIVE state tothe EUTRA RRC_IDLE state, from the EUTRA RRC_INACTIVE state to the NRRRC_IDLE state, from the NR RRC_IDLE state to the EUTRA RRC_IDLE state,from the EUTRA RRC_IDLE state to the NR RRC_IDLE state). The EUTRARRC_INACTIVE UE may camp on an EUTRA cell connected to the 5GC. Forexample, the UE may receive and apply the paging configuration in the NRRRC_INACTIVE state. After the UE transitions to the EUTRA RRC_IDLEstate, the RRC_IDLE UE may still apply the paging configuration used inthe NR RRC_INACTIVE state. The EUTRA RRC_IDLE UE may store the pagingconfiguration used in the NR RRC_INACTIVE state, where the pagingconfiguration used in the NR RRC_INACTIVE state may be valid for theEUTRA RRC_IDLE UE. In some implementations, if the EUTRA RRC_IDLE UE hasthe preconfigured EUTRA paging configuration or receives the pagingconfiguration broadcast from a camped-on cell (e.g., an EUTRA cell), theUE may apply the preconfigured or received paging configuration ratherthan the paging configuration used in the NR RRC_INACTIVE state.

In some implementations, if the UE reselects a cell on a different band,the UE may store the paging configuration for the cell in a previousband. When the UE reselects a cell in the previous band, the UE maydirectly apply the stored paging configuration for the previous band.For example, the UE may be configured with one or more paging parametersfor a cell on an unlicensed band (e.g., an NR-U cell). If the UEreselects a cell on a licensed band regardless of the frequencyprioritization, the UE may store the paging parameter(s) for the cell onthe unlicensed band. When the UE reselects a cell on the unlicensed bandagain, the UE may apply the stored paging parameter(s) for pagingmonitoring on the reselected cell on the unlicensed band. In anotherexample, the UE may be configured with the paging parameter(s) for acell on a licensed band (e.g., an NR cell or an EUTRA cell). If the UEreselects a cell on an unlicensed band regardless of the frequencyprioritization, the UE may store the paging parameter(s) for the cell onthe licensed band. When the UE reselects a cell on the licensed bandagain, the UE may apply the stored paging parameter(s) for pagingmonitoring on a reselected cell on the licensed band.

In some implementations, if the UE reselects a cell on a different band,the UE may clear or remove the paging configuration for the cell in aprevious band. In such a case, the paging configuration may becomeinvalid. When the UE reselects a cell in the previous band, the UE mayuse a preconfigured paging configuration for the previous band or applythe paging configuration broadcast from a camped-on cell in the previousband. For example, the UE may be configured with one or more pagingparameters for a cell on an unlicensed band (e.g., an NR-U cell). If theUE reselects a cell on a licensed band regardless of the frequencyprioritization, the UE may clear, release or remove the pagingparameters for the cell on the unlicensed band. When the UE reselects acell on the unlicensed band again, the UE may apply the preconfiguredpaging parameters for the cell on an unlicensed band or the pagingconfiguration broadcast from the reselected cell on the unlicensed bandfor paging monitoring/reception on the reselected cell on the unlicensedband. In another example, the UE may be configured with the pagingparameter(s) for a cell on a licensed band (e.g., an NR cell or an EUTRAcell). If the UE reselects a cell on an unlicensed band regardless ofthe frequency prioritization, the UE may release, remove or clear thepaging parameter(s) for the cell on the licensed band. When the UEreselects a cell on the licensed band again, the UE may apply thepreconfigured paging parameter(s) for the reselected cell on thelicensed band or the paging configuration broadcast from the reselectedcell on the licensed band to perform paging monitoring/reception on thereselected cell on the licensed band.

In some implementations, if the UE reselects a cell on a different band,the UE may store the paging configuration used for the cell in aprevious band for a time period. For example, the UE may start a timerwhen it reselects a cell on a different band. Before the timer expires,if the UE reselects a cell in the previous band, the UE may directlyapply the stored paging configuration associated with the timer for theprevious band. In some implementations, before the timer expires, if theUE reselects the same cell as the previous serving cell on the previousband, the UE may directly apply the stored paging configuration.Conversely, if the UE reselects a cell on the previous band which isdifferent from the previous serving cell on the previous band, the UEmay not directly apply the stored paging configuration. In someimplementations, before the timer expires, if the UE reselects any cellon the previous band, the UE may directly apply the stored pagingconfiguration. The UE may stop (or restart) the timer when the UEreselects the same cell on the previous band as the previous servingcell on the previous band. In some implementations, the UE may stop (orrestart) the timer when the UE reselects any cell on the previous band.When the timer expires, the UE may release, clear or remove the storedpaging configuration. If the timer expires and the UE reselects a cellon the previous band, the UE may use the preconfigured pagingconfiguration for the previous band or apply the paging configurationbroadcast from a camped-on cell on the previous band.

In some implementations, a UE may be configured with one or more pagingparameters for a cell on an unlicensed band (e.g., an NR-U cell). If theUE reselects a cell on a licensed band regardless of the frequencyprioritization, the UE may start a timer and store the pagingconfiguration used for the cell on the unlicensed band. Before the timerexpires, if the UE reselects the same cell on an unlicensed band as theprevious serving cell on the unlicensed band, the UE may apply thestored paging configuration. Before the timer expires, if the UEreselects a different cell on an unlicensed band from the previousserving cell on the unlicensed band, the UE may stop (or restart) thetimer and clear/remove/release the paging configuration. In someimplementations, before the timer expires, if the UE reselects adifferent cell on an unlicensed band from the previous serving cell onthe unlicensed band, the UE may keep the timer running and store thepaging configuration. In some implementations, before the timer expires,if the UE reselects any cell on an unlicensed band, the UE may apply thestored paging configuration associated with the timer. The UE may stop(or restart) the timer when the UE reselects the same cell on theunlicensed band as the previous serving cell on the unlicensed band. Insome implementations, the UE may stop (or restart) the timer when the UEreselects any cell on the unlicensed band. If the timer expires, the UEmay release, clear or remove the stored paging configuration associatedwith the timer. If the timer expires and the UE reselects a cell on theunlicensed band, the UE may use the preconfigured paging configurationfor the unlicensed band or apply the broadcast paging configuration froma camped-on cell on the unlicensed band.

In some implementations, the terms “paging,” “paging channel,” and “PO”may be used interchangeably.

In some implementations, the paging DCI may be carried by PDCCH(s) in aCORESET. In some implementations, the paging DCI may be the PDCCHaddressed to the RNTI associated for paging.

In some implementations, the PDCCH(s) addressed to an RNTI associatedwith paging may include (or be) the DCI format 1_0 with CyclicRedundancy Check (CRC) scrambled by a P-RNTI.

In some implementations, a PDSCH may carry the paging message.

In some implementations, the RRC_CONNECTED UE, RRC_INACTIVE UE, andRRC_IDLE UE may each apply the operations, actions or proceduresdescribed in disclosed implementations.

In some implementations, when the UE monitors the paging channel(s), theUE may further receive the paging (e.g., the PDCCH addressed to an RNTIassociated with paging, the paging DCI and/or paging message(s)) in thePO(s).

In some implementations, if the UE monitors the paging channel(s), theUE may further decode the paging (e.g., the PDCCH addressed to an RNTIassociated for paging, paging DCI(s), paging message(s)) in the PO (s).

In some implementations, the paging DCI may be the DCI with the CRCscrambled by a P-RNTI or by a common RNTI (e.g., Cell Radio NetworkTemporary Identifier (C-RNTI)), which indicate the information relatedto the paging. The information related to the paging may be thetime/frequency resource (e.g., PDSCH resources) for the UE to receivethe paging message(s). In some implementations, the information relatedto paging may be the ETWS/CMAS notification and/or system informationchange.

In some implementations, a DRS window length may be 5 milliseconds (ms),and a DRX cycle may be 32, 64, 128 or 256 radio frames.

In some implementations, the network may provide the system informationvia dedicated signaling to an RRC_CONNECTED UE using an RRCReconfiguration message. For example, the RRC_CONNECTED UE may beconfigured with an active BWP with a common search space configured tomonitor the system information or paging.

In some implementations, the PDCCH addressed to an RNTI associated withpaging (on which the UE successfully decodes) may indicate the paginginformation including the UE ID or without the UE ID.

In some implementations, the operations, actions or procedures describedin the disclosed implementations may be determined based on a per-PublicLand Mobile Network (PLMN) basis, a per-Non-Public Network (NPN) basis,a per-Stand-alone NPN (SNPN) basis, or a per-Closed Access Group (CAG)basis. For example, each UE belonging to a different PLMN/NPN/CAG/SNPNmay be configured with different parameter(s) for receiving a PDCCHaddressed to an RNTI associated for paging in PO(s) in a DRS/DRX.

In some implementations, a UE may receive the paging (e.g., the PDCCHaddressed to an RNTI associated with paging, the paging DCI and/or thepaging message(s)) in the initial BWP and/or the active BWP.

In some implementations, the UE may receive an indicator (e.g., a pagingstop indicator) that indicates whether to stop monitoring the pagingchannel(s). The UE may receive the indicator via system information(e.g., the SIB1 and/or OSI) from a serving/camped-on cell. The UE mayreceive the indicator via dedicated signaling (e.g., an RRC message, anRRC Reconfiguration message, an RRC Release message, an RRC Releasemessage without a suspend configuration, or an RRC Release message witha suspend configuration) from a serving/camped-on cell. In someimplementations, the UE may receive the indicator in the PDCCH addressedto an RNTI associated with paging, the paging DCI or the pagingmessage(s). The indicator may have a Boolean structure or an enumeratestructure. In some implementations, if the indicator does not instructthe UE to stop monitoring the paging channel(s), the UE may continue tomonitor the paging channel(s).

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a node 500 for wirelesscommunication, in accordance with the present disclosure. As illustratedin FIG. 5, the node 500 may include a transceiver 520, a processor 528,a memory 534, one or more presentation components 538, and at least oneantenna 536. The node 500 may also include an RF spectrum band module, aBS communications module, a network communications module, and a systemcommunications management module, Input/Output (I/O) ports, I/Ocomponents, and power supply (not explicitly illustrated). Each of thesecomponents may be in communication with each other, directly orindirectly, over one or more buses 540. In one implementation, the node500 may be a UE or a BS, or any other apparatus of wirelesscommunications that performs various functions described herein, forexample, with reference to FIGS. 1 through 4.

The transceiver 520 has a transmitter 522 (e.g.,transmitting/transmission circuitry) and a receiver 524 (e.g.,receiving/reception circuitry) configured to transmit and/or receivetime and/or frequency resource partitioning information. In someimplementations, the transceiver 520 may be configured to transmit indifferent types of subframes and slots including, but are not limitedto, usable, non-usable and flexibly usable subframes and slot formats.The transceiver 520 may be configured to receive data and controlchannels.

The node 500 may include a variety of computer-readable media.Computer-readable media may be any available media that may be accessedby the node 500 and include both volatile (and non-volatile) media andremovable (and non-removable) media. By way of example, and notlimitation, computer-readable media may comprise computer storage mediaand communication media. Computer storage media may include bothvolatile (and non-volatile) media and removable (and non-removable)media implemented according to any method or technology for storage ofinformation such as computer-readable instructions, data structures,program modules or data.

Computer storage media may include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory (orother memory technology), CD-ROM, Digital Versatile Disks (DVD) (orother optical disk storage), magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magneticdisk storage (or other magnetic storage devices), etc. Computer storagemedia may not include a propagated data signal. Communication media maytypically embody computer-readable instructions, data structures,program modules or other data in a modulated data signal such as acarrier wave or other transport mechanism and include any informationdelivery media. The term “modulated data signal” may mean a signal thathas one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manneras to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and notlimitation, communication media may include wired media such as a wirednetwork or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic,RF, infrared and other wireless media. Combinations of any of the aboveshould also be included within the scope of computer-readable media.

The memory 534 may include computer-storage media in the form ofvolatile and/or non-volatile memory. The memory 534 may be removable,non-removable, or a combination thereof. Examples of memory includesolid-state memory, hard drives, optical-disc drives, etc. Asillustrated in FIG. 5, the memory 534 may store computer-readable,computer-executable instructions 532 (e.g., software codes) that areconfigured to, when executed, cause the processor 528 to perform variousfunctions described herein, for example, with reference to FIGS. 1through 4. Alternatively, the instructions 532 may not be directlyexecutable by the processor 528 but be configured to cause the node 500(e.g., when compiled and executed) to perform various functionsdescribed herein.

The processor 528 (e.g., having processing circuitry) may include aCentral Processing Unit (CPU), a microcontroller, an ASIC, anintelligent hardware device, or any combination thereof configured toperform the disclosed functions. The processor 528 may include memory.The processor 528 may process the data 530 and the instructions 532received from the memory 534, and information received via thetransceiver 520, the base band communications module, and/or the networkcommunications module. The processor 528 may also process information tobe sent to the transceiver 520 for transmission via the antenna 536, tothe network communications module for transmission to a CN.

One or more presentation components 538 may present data to a person orother devices. Examples of presentation components 538 may include adisplay device, speaker, printing component, vibrating component, etc.

From the above description, it is clear that various techniques may beused for implementing the concepts described in the present disclosurewithout departing from the scope of those concepts. Moreover, while theconcepts have been described with specific reference to certainimplementations, a person of ordinary skill in the art may recognizethat changes may be made in form and detail without departing from thescope of those concepts. As such, the described implementations are tobe considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Itshould also be understood that the present disclosure is not limited tothe particular implementations described, but many rearrangements,modifications, and substitutions are possible without departing from thescope of the present disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A user equipment (UE) comprising: one or morenon-transitory computer-readable media having computer-executableinstructions embodied thereon; and at least one processor coupled to theone or more non-transitory computer-readable media, and configured toexecute the computer-executable instructions to: receive a firstPhysical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) addressed to a first RadioNetwork Temporary Identifier (RNTI); and stop monitoring a second PDCCHaddressed to a second RNTI if the first PDCCH includes a paging stopindicator, wherein the second RNTI is the same as the first RNTI.
 2. TheUE of claim 1, wherein: the UE is configured with a plurality of PDCCHmonitoring occasions for paging in a Paging Occasion (PO) within aDiscontinuous Reception (DRX) cycle, and the plurality of PDCCHmonitoring occasions for paging includes a first PDCCH monitoringoccasion for the first PDCCH and a second PDCCH monitoring occasion forthe second PDCCH.
 3. The UE of claim 2, wherein the at least oneprocessor is further configured to execute the computer-executableinstructions to: receive at least one configuration in systeminformation from a cell; and determine the plurality of PDCCH monitoringoccasions for paging according to the at least one configuration;wherein the at least one configuration comprises: a first parameterindicating a number of transmitted Synchronization Signal/PhysicalBroadcast Channel Blocks (SSBs) for each beam sweeping round in the PO,and a second parameter indicating a number of the beam sweeping roundsin the PO.
 4. The UE of claim 3, wherein the at least one processor isfurther configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:determine a number of the plurality of PDCCH monitoring occasions forpaging in the PO based on a product of the first parameter and thesecond parameter.
 5. The UE of claim 3, wherein the at least oneconfiguration includes a Paging Control Channel (PCCH) configuration. 6.The UE of claim 2, wherein the second PDCCH monitoring occasion issubsequent to the first PDCCH monitoring occasion in a time domain. 7.The UE of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is furtherconfigured to execute the computer-executable instructions to: stopmonitoring the second PDCCH if the UE does not successfully decode thefirst PDCCH.
 8. The UE of claim 1, wherein the paging stop indicator iscontained in paging Downlink Control Information (DCI).
 9. The UE ofclaim 1, wherein the paging stop indicator is contained in a RadioResource Control (RRC) message.
 10. The UE of claim 1, wherein the firstPDCCH and the second PDCCH are associated with a same SynchronizationSignal/Physical Broadcast Channel Block (SSB).
 11. A method performed bya user equipment (UE), the method comprising: receiving a first PhysicalDownlink Control Channel (PDCCH) addressed to a first Radio NetworkTemporary Identifier (RNTI); and stopping monitoring a second PDCCHaddressed to a second RNTI if the first PDCCH includes a paging stopindicator, wherein the second RNTI is the same as the first RNTI. 12.The method of claim 11, wherein: the UE is configured with a pluralityof PDCCH monitoring occasions for paging in a Paging Occasion (PO)within a Discontinuous Reception (DRX) cycle, and the plurality of PDCCHmonitoring occasions for paging includes a first PDCCH monitoringoccasion for the first PDCCH and a second PDCCH monitoring occasion forthe second PDCCH.
 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:receiving at least one configuration in system information from a cell;and determining the plurality of PDCCH monitoring occasions for pagingaccording to the at least one configuration; wherein the at least oneconfiguration comprises: a first parameter indicating a number oftransmitted Synchronization Signal/Physical Broadcast Channel Blocks(SSBs) for each beam sweeping round in the PO, and a second parameterindicating a number of the beam sweeping rounds in the PO.
 14. Themethod of claim 13, further comprising: determining a number of theplurality of PDCCH monitoring occasions for paging in the PO based on aproduct of the first parameter and the second parameter.
 15. The methodof claim 13, wherein the at least one configuration includes a PagingControl Channel (PCCH) configuration.
 16. The method of claim 12,wherein the second PDCCH monitoring occasion is subsequent to the firstPDCCH monitoring occasion in a time domain.
 17. The method of claim 11,further comprising: stopping monitoring the second PDCCH if the UE doesnot successfully decode the first PDCCH.
 18. The method of claim 11,wherein the paging stop indicator is contained in paging DownlinkControl Information (DCI).
 19. The method of claim 11, wherein thepaging stop indicator is contained in a Radio Resource Control (RRC)message.
 20. The method of claim 11, wherein the first PDCCH and thesecond PDCCH are associated with a same Synchronization Signal/PhysicalBroadcast Channel Block (SSB).